Thessaly is a vast plain in Central Greece, enclosed by mountains and drained by the river Peneios. In 197 B.C. the Romans, under the leadership of general Flamininus, won a great victory over Phillip V of Macedon, the ruler of Thessaly. The nominal freedom of the Greeks was proclaimed at Corinth at this time and a number of new autonomous Thessalian coinages were initiated. This stunning silver coin was minted during this period. One side of the coin features the laurelled head of Apollo, the Greek God of the sun. This dynamic Greek deity, roused daily by the crowing of the cock, drives the sun across the heavens with his four-horse chariot. At night he sails home along the ocean stream, which flows around the world, embarking his chariot and team on a golden ferryboat. The reverse side of the coin depicts the Greek Goddess of wisdom, Athena. According to myth, Athena’s father Zeus was suffering from an enormous headache and summoned Hephaistion the blacksmith God to split open his head and relieve the pain. When Hephaistion brought his hammer down on Zeus’ skull, Athena jumped forth fully-grown and wearing a suit of armor. Here Athena appears with her characteristic military attire. In her right hand she holds a spear while the left hand grasps a shield. A tangible and potent legacy, this extraordinary Thessalian coin speaks of a time when the great gods held sway over not only the heavens, but man's destiny as well.