Category: Roman Empire
-
Jovinus the Usurper & the end of Roman Power in Germany
Described as Germany’s oldest city, Trier was founded under Augustus but only rose to prominence in the late 3rd century AD. As the Rhine frontier became increasingly the focal point of Roman military activity in the 4th century, Trier grew in importance as the effective capital of all Roman lands north of the Alps, with many legions…
-
Hadrian in Egypt – The Mysterious Demise of Antinous
Hadrian and Antinous hunted lions together in the Libyan desert and then headed back to the Nile for a cruise southbound towards Upper Egypt. Within weeks of their arrival in Egypt, and presumably only a week or so into the Nile cruise, Antinous drowned, under mysterious circumstances. He was 19.
-
The Cult of Isis – Egyptian Religion in Rome
Isis, along with Serapis, were the two principal deities that spread from Greek-ruled Egypt (under the Ptolemies) to the rest of the Mediterranean, and, inevitably, to Rome. A shrine to Isis was first erected on the Capitoline Hill in the first century BC, around the time this coin was struck. The cult of Isis was…
-
Augustus’s Greatest Diplomatic Victory – The Parthians & Crassus’s Legionary Eagles
Leaders of the past generation, such as his stepfather Julius Caesar, had placed military symbols on their coins – a trophy of Gallic arms with a bound captive, in Caesar’s case. Augustus, though never one to shy away from a war, was a more diplomatically inclined ruler that pushed a narrative of peace and stability.…
-
The Decian Persecution of Christians (249-251) & Its Unintended Consequences
The persecutions brought the faith into the open, and more than a few Romans were struck by what they saw. Romans in their amphitheaters, watching Christians burned alive or torn limb from limb by wild beasts, saw shades of the same discipline, stoicism, and courage that they valued in their own Roman ancestors. Curiosity about…
-
Roman Provincial Coinage & Imperial Identity
For example, the coin at the top of this article, struck at Tarsus during the reign of Maximinus I (235-238 AD), features a reverse showing the Judgement of Paris, a famous scene from the Trojan War story. Paris, seated at right, holds the apple which he must give to the most beautiful goddess – Aphrodite,…
-
Silver Shekels of Tyre: The Coins Used to Betray Christ
The silver Shekel of the city of Tyre, Phoenicia (modern Lebanon) is one of the most popular and prized coins of the ancient world. Along with the ‘tribute penny’ silver denarius of Tiberius, it is one of two coins referenced in the New Testament that directly relate to the life of Christ. The reference for…