Vintage Water Nymph Arethusa Silver Greek Coin Brooch - Dolphin Fountain Syracuse - Alva Museum Replica - deals Greek Revival Necklace - Roman
ALVA Museum Replicas Greek Silver Water Nymph Arethusa Coin Brooch with Original Alva Gift Box and Paperwork
The coin brooch has been well-maintained and is in excellent vintage condition.
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Arethusa - The Waterer
In Greek mythology, Arethusa was a nymph and daughter of Nereus (making her a Nereid), who fled from her home in Arcadia beneath the sea and came up as a fresh water fountain on the island of Ortygia in Syracuse, Sicily.
As a patron figure of Syracuse, the head of Arethusa surrounded by dolphins was the usual obverse of their coins. They are regarded as among the most famous and beautiful Ancient Greek coins.
The myth of her transformation begins in Arcadia when she came across a clear stream and began bathing, not knowing it was the river god Alpheus, who flowed down from Arcadia through Elis to the sea. He fell in love during their encounter, but she fled after discovering his presence and intentions, as she wished to remain a chaste attendant of Artemis. After a long chase, she prayed to her goddess to ask for protection. Artemis hid her in a cloud, but Alpheus was persistent. She began to perspire profusely from fear, and soon transformed into a stream. Artemis then broke the ground allowing Arethusa another attempt to flee. Her stream traveled under the sea to the island of Ortygia, but Alpheus flowed through the sea to reach her and mingle with her waters.
Authorized, copyrighted reproduction in silver electroplated metal, made from the originals in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC by Alva Museum Replicas, New York.
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Alva Studios, operated by Alfred Wolkenberg. Alfred was born in Vienna in 1911 and immigrated to the US in 1939. In 1948 he founded Alva Studios of Long Island City, NY. He had many artists and designers who were commissioned to produce reproductions of priceless ancient jewelry and sculpture. The pieces were deals marked Alva Museum Replicas and sold at famous museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art ( MMA ), Smithsonian Institute ( SI ), The Louvre, The Art Institute of Chicago, etc...
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