Aesop's Fables Fox Medallion
In Aesop’s classic fable "The Fox and the Grapes," a hungry Fox once came upon a luscious bunch of grapes hanging high on a vine. He leapt and strained, stretching every muscle, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not reach the sweet fruit. Frustrated and weary, the Fox finally turned away, muttering that the grapes were probably sour anyway. Though he could not have them, he consoled himself by pretending he never wanted them in the first place. This tale reminds us that it is easy to dismiss or criticize what we cannot attain, often as a way to protect our pride or self-esteem. Our medallion captures the story’s charm and wisdom, as well as its important message: The back features the Greek word ὙΠΟΜΟΝΗ, meaning "endurance, steadfastness, or patience," highlighting the value of continuing to strive rather than giving up, which is the essence of the moral of Aesop's tale.
Our medallion is based on an ancient coin from Ionia, a region settled by Greeks on the western coast of Asia Minor. The coin was minted at Kyzikos, a prominent city-state in Ionia known for its economic importance and minting of coins. The coin was made from electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver found in riverbeds. Early electrum coins minted in Ionia and Lydia around the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC were among the first coinage in the earliest monetary systems in the Western world. This medallion is inspired by an electrum stater from Kyzikos dating to the late seventh century BC. It features a fox striding right.
Greek cities often featured symbolic animals on their coins. The fox on our medallion was a recurring symbol on the electrum coins of Kyzikos. While the exact symbolism is not known, the fox was tied to the region. In fact, it was the symbol of the peninsula of Alopekonnesos near Kyzikos, which was known for its foxes. Otherwise, the fox may have been linked to local legends, or a sign of good fortune, symbolizing the wealth and commercial success of the city.
Our medallion may be worn as a necklace or a bracelet. It comes with a 22" brown leather cord, as well as your choice of a children's or adult's translated version of a book of Aesop's Fables.
