Currency in ancient Greece
<p>The value of material goods relies on a consensus-based estimation reaffirmed whenever the possession changes hands, during loot division, prize distribution, or crafting gifts for celebratory occasions like weddings. This worth encompasses both the richness of the material used and the craftsmanship quality. In the Homeric world, a common valuation exists, expressed in the number of cattle. A beautiful vat is appraised as one ox, new bronze weapons as nine oxen, a large tripod as twelve oxen, and gold weapons as a hundred oxen. However, these valuations remain vague and do not consider the social value, such as prestige, which is remarkably influential in these societies. The social status of war prisoners significantly influences their price, and the price of a noble-origin slave is much higher than that of a skilled but less prestigious one. Additionally, certain objects gain extra value because they previously belonged to a hero or even a god. The garment that Helen gives to Telemachus upon his return to Ithaca, she says, will remain a memory, <em>mnēma</em>, of the queen of Sparta.</p>
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