Summary

Medal Conquest of Lower Egypt, Issued by France, 1798
Artist: Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet
Minted by Paris Mint

Obverse Description

Nile reclining left in chains with left arm resting on the Sphinx, cornucopia behind; Children (representing the main tributaries of the Nile) play over the river-god, one with an alligator; on ground in small letters, BRENET; in exergue, CONQUETE DE LA / BASSE EGYPTE / AN VII

Reverse Description

Three pyramids; in exergue, DENNON DIR. G. DU / MUSEE C. D. ARTS / BRENET

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

"The figure Nile on this medal is taken from the beautiful antique black marble in the Vatican at Rome: in the original there are sixteen children, suposed to denote the number of cubits which the Nile rose; but Denon in this medal has reduced them to seven, to denote its tributary streams." Laskey, p.17-18

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