DOI Artikel:
Jellonek, Szymon: Roman foundation myths on colonial coinage
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49247#0109
ROMAN FOUNDATION MYTHS ON COLONIAL COINAGE
by two oxen. Contrary to the speculations of some researchers,18 this was by no
means a way of depicting the everyday life of the agricultural population. This scene
alluded to the mythical founding of Rome by Romulus, who, aided by two oxen,
marked the original furrow {sulcus primigenius), that is, the boundaries of the future
city.19 A description of this event has been handed down to us by ancient historians
such as Dionysius of Halicarnassus,20 Plutarch,21 and Tacitus.22 This ritual ceremony
(aratrum - plow), included in Etrusca disciplina, was conducted whenever Rome was
enlarged or whenever Roman colonies were established, which in turn is assured to us
by Marcus Terentius Varro.23 As cities modeled after the capital, Roman colonies took
this ceremony as their symbolic beginning.24 This being the case, it is not surprising
that this ritual was often depicted at most of the centers.
The motive appeared for the first time in 81 BC on a denarius serratus (RRC
378/1 c) struck by C. Marius. Next it was presented on a denarius struck in 28 BC
(RIC2 272) under Octavianus. The solo-ruler who tried to legitimize his power
eventually chose the title Augustus in 27 BC. However earlier he considered to
became a new Romulus25. This assumption known from historical sources can be
supported by the symbolic foundation scene on his denarius emitted in 28 BC.
Augustus had never ultimately accepted title of Romulus, however was perceived
as the new founder of Rome or rather Roman State26. Other emperors who presented
themselves as founders where Vespasian (eg. RIC 943), Trajan (eg. RIC 567) and
Commodus. The latter even decided to refound Rome as Colonia Commodiana27.
Reminiscence of that audacious act are series of coins where Commodus is ploughing
with yoke of oxen (eg. RIC 560, 570). The issues obtained typical colonial legend:
COL LAN COM.
It is worth adding here, however, that even though, in the overwhelming majority
of cases, this type appeared on colonial coins, it was not exclusively reserved for
them, for it appeared in at least two cities that were not colonies. Although we know
that Tralles (RPC 12649), for example, was settled by newcomers from Italy during
the age of Augustus,28 it never had the status of a colony. Regarding Assorus, Sicily
18 BLANCO-PEREZ 2015: 139.
19 ECKSTEIN 1979: 87-90; DĄBROWA 2004b: 399.
20 Dion. Hal. Ani. Rom. 1.88.
21 Pint. Rom 11.
22Tac. Ann 12.24.
23 Varro. Ling. 5.14.
24 ECKSTEIN 1979: 93-94; SISANI 2014: 379.
25 Suet. Div. Aug. 7’ Cass. Dio. 53. 16.8.
26 SCOTT 1925: 89-95.
27 Cass. Dio. 73.15.2; SHA Comm. 8.
28 MAGIE 1950: 469.
105
by two oxen. Contrary to the speculations of some researchers,18 this was by no
means a way of depicting the everyday life of the agricultural population. This scene
alluded to the mythical founding of Rome by Romulus, who, aided by two oxen,
marked the original furrow {sulcus primigenius), that is, the boundaries of the future
city.19 A description of this event has been handed down to us by ancient historians
such as Dionysius of Halicarnassus,20 Plutarch,21 and Tacitus.22 This ritual ceremony
(aratrum - plow), included in Etrusca disciplina, was conducted whenever Rome was
enlarged or whenever Roman colonies were established, which in turn is assured to us
by Marcus Terentius Varro.23 As cities modeled after the capital, Roman colonies took
this ceremony as their symbolic beginning.24 This being the case, it is not surprising
that this ritual was often depicted at most of the centers.
The motive appeared for the first time in 81 BC on a denarius serratus (RRC
378/1 c) struck by C. Marius. Next it was presented on a denarius struck in 28 BC
(RIC2 272) under Octavianus. The solo-ruler who tried to legitimize his power
eventually chose the title Augustus in 27 BC. However earlier he considered to
became a new Romulus25. This assumption known from historical sources can be
supported by the symbolic foundation scene on his denarius emitted in 28 BC.
Augustus had never ultimately accepted title of Romulus, however was perceived
as the new founder of Rome or rather Roman State26. Other emperors who presented
themselves as founders where Vespasian (eg. RIC 943), Trajan (eg. RIC 567) and
Commodus. The latter even decided to refound Rome as Colonia Commodiana27.
Reminiscence of that audacious act are series of coins where Commodus is ploughing
with yoke of oxen (eg. RIC 560, 570). The issues obtained typical colonial legend:
COL LAN COM.
It is worth adding here, however, that even though, in the overwhelming majority
of cases, this type appeared on colonial coins, it was not exclusively reserved for
them, for it appeared in at least two cities that were not colonies. Although we know
that Tralles (RPC 12649), for example, was settled by newcomers from Italy during
the age of Augustus,28 it never had the status of a colony. Regarding Assorus, Sicily
18 BLANCO-PEREZ 2015: 139.
19 ECKSTEIN 1979: 87-90; DĄBROWA 2004b: 399.
20 Dion. Hal. Ani. Rom. 1.88.
21 Pint. Rom 11.
22Tac. Ann 12.24.
23 Varro. Ling. 5.14.
24 ECKSTEIN 1979: 93-94; SISANI 2014: 379.
25 Suet. Div. Aug. 7’ Cass. Dio. 53. 16.8.
26 SCOTT 1925: 89-95.
27 Cass. Dio. 73.15.2; SHA Comm. 8.
28 MAGIE 1950: 469.
105