DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4679#0085
9. CORONATUS, STEPHANEPHOROS. 59
mentioned on his coins. No coins of Connnodus mention the Neo-
korate: but under Caracalla we find the legend AAOAIKE.QN •
NEnKOP-QN • AOTMATI • CYNKAHTOY ■ KOMOAOY ■ KE • ANTH-
NEINOY, which shows that Caracalla was received into the temple of
Commodus to be avvvaos Kai crvvfioD/ios with him. This reception is
probably to be explained by a remark of Eckhel's. He points out
that no coins of Laodiceia with the name of Septimius Severus are
known. In the rich coinage of the city, this omission can hardly be
accidental; and Eckhel inferred that Laodiceia had taken a prominent
part on the side of Pescennius Niger, and been punished by Severus
with certain penalties, including the loss of the right of coinage.
Asia was for a short time held by Pescennius, and his name seems to
have remained attached to a village between Apollonia and Antioch
of Pisidia (JHS 1883 p. 34). Laodiceia must have been held by
Pescennius, and, as it was a strong fortress, it would be likely to be
held in strength and perhaps to resist Severus 1. The contrasted case
of Laodiceia in Syria, which was made a metropolis and entitled
Septimia because it had resisted Pescennius Niger, shows how much
importance was attached by Severus to the conduct of the eastern
cities towards his rival. He also was with difficulty induced to
pardon Alexandria because it had sided with Niger (Malalas XII
p. 293).
The penalties inflicted, according to this theory, on Laodiceia were
remitted by Caracalla, probably at the time of his accession to sole
power in February an. The renewed liberty and happiness of the
city and their gratitude to the emperor, are attested by their adding
the worship of Caracalla to that of Commodus, by the very rich series
of coins struck under Caracalla, and especially by the type and
legend on one: 6YTYXEIC • KAIPOI ■ AAOAIK£jQN • NE.QKOP.nN.
This legend, usually interpreted, on account of the type of four boys
which accompanies it, as referring to the four Seasons, has been ex-
plained with much greater probability by M. Babelon 2 as a rendering
of the Latin legend FELICIA • TEMPORA, frequently used on Koman
' On the other hand Hierapolis struck Annius Verus and Commodus, with
numerous coins under Severus, and TEMPORVM • FELICITAS and the
probably received the honour of the type of four boys representing the four
Neokorate under him; though the favour Seasons. Similarly in an inscription of
shown it may have been due in part to Magnesia on the Maeander the words
the influence of L. Septimius Antipater occur iv roh cvm^euTaroif Kaipols tov
§ 5- avTOKpaToposTpdiavov'ASpi.ai'OvBGJl l888
2 Iiev. Numism. 1891 p. 31. Compare p. 206.
the coins of Commodus and Marcia, and
mentioned on his coins. No coins of Connnodus mention the Neo-
korate: but under Caracalla we find the legend AAOAIKE.QN •
NEnKOP-QN • AOTMATI • CYNKAHTOY ■ KOMOAOY ■ KE • ANTH-
NEINOY, which shows that Caracalla was received into the temple of
Commodus to be avvvaos Kai crvvfioD/ios with him. This reception is
probably to be explained by a remark of Eckhel's. He points out
that no coins of Laodiceia with the name of Septimius Severus are
known. In the rich coinage of the city, this omission can hardly be
accidental; and Eckhel inferred that Laodiceia had taken a prominent
part on the side of Pescennius Niger, and been punished by Severus
with certain penalties, including the loss of the right of coinage.
Asia was for a short time held by Pescennius, and his name seems to
have remained attached to a village between Apollonia and Antioch
of Pisidia (JHS 1883 p. 34). Laodiceia must have been held by
Pescennius, and, as it was a strong fortress, it would be likely to be
held in strength and perhaps to resist Severus 1. The contrasted case
of Laodiceia in Syria, which was made a metropolis and entitled
Septimia because it had resisted Pescennius Niger, shows how much
importance was attached by Severus to the conduct of the eastern
cities towards his rival. He also was with difficulty induced to
pardon Alexandria because it had sided with Niger (Malalas XII
p. 293).
The penalties inflicted, according to this theory, on Laodiceia were
remitted by Caracalla, probably at the time of his accession to sole
power in February an. The renewed liberty and happiness of the
city and their gratitude to the emperor, are attested by their adding
the worship of Caracalla to that of Commodus, by the very rich series
of coins struck under Caracalla, and especially by the type and
legend on one: 6YTYXEIC • KAIPOI ■ AAOAIK£jQN • NE.QKOP.nN.
This legend, usually interpreted, on account of the type of four boys
which accompanies it, as referring to the four Seasons, has been ex-
plained with much greater probability by M. Babelon 2 as a rendering
of the Latin legend FELICIA • TEMPORA, frequently used on Koman
' On the other hand Hierapolis struck Annius Verus and Commodus, with
numerous coins under Severus, and TEMPORVM • FELICITAS and the
probably received the honour of the type of four boys representing the four
Neokorate under him; though the favour Seasons. Similarly in an inscription of
shown it may have been due in part to Magnesia on the Maeander the words
the influence of L. Septimius Antipater occur iv roh cvm^euTaroif Kaipols tov
§ 5- avTOKpaToposTpdiavov'ASpi.ai'OvBGJl l888
2 Iiev. Numism. 1891 p. 31. Compare p. 206.
the coins of Commodus and Marcia, and