DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45583#0116
Dusares and the coin-types of Bostra
XXXIII
We are therefore left with the colonial type before-mentioned, on the coin of Elaga-
balus, as our only indication of the possession of colonial rights on the part of Bostra
before the reign of Severus Alexander. This coin shows clearly that Bostra was a
colony before the end of the reign of Elagabalus. But to apply the words of Damas-
cus to Septimius Severus, and date the foundation of the colony from his reign, involves
us in a numismatic difficulty, in that the colonial types, Latin inscriptions, and the title of
COLONIA, which we should expect to find on the coins of Septimius Severus and
Caracalla after the foundation of the colony, are absent. Moreover, even the coins of
Elagabalus are inscribed in Greek, omit the colonial title, and show no colonial types,
with the single exception which we have noted above. On this exceptional piece the
Latin legend contains two Greek letters, UU and P, as if the mint of Bostra had not yet
accustomed itself to the use of the new tongue. All this points to the conclusion that
colonial privileges were granted to Bostra toward the close of Elagabalus’ reign, and
being confirmed by Severus Alexander, were credited to this prince rather than to his
predecessor. It is with Alexander, therefore, that the consistent use of Latin legends
begins, and in his honor the city assumed the epithet ALEXANDRIANA which is found
on the coins of Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea (Catalogue, nos. 32, 40).
The coins show that the official title of the city was NEA TPAIANH BOCTPA
down to Caracalla’s reign, when we find on one piece the additional epithet of ANTLNI
(N I A N H) assumed in honor of that emperor (Catalogue, no. 23). Under Severus Alexan-
der and Julia Mamaea the city calls itself COLONIA BOSTRA, or NEA TRAIANA
ALEXANDRIANA COLONIA BOSTRA. From Philip Senior on, Bostra assumes the
title METROPOLIS, sharing -the honor with Petra, which had enjoyed the title since
the reign of Hadrian, and the designation of the city becomes COLONIA METROPOLIS
BOSTRA.
The most popular type on the coins of Bostra is the city Tyche, as a glance at
our plates will show. She appears on the bronzes of almost every reign from the
beginning to the end of the series. We see her in bust, wearing the characteristic
mural crown, or standing, clothed in tunic and palla. In her left hand she regularly
carries the cornucopia, which on coins of Caracalla, Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea
(Fig. 16, 25, 27) also accompanies the bust. But on a coin of Faustina Senior (Fig. 8),
her left hand rests on her hip, and if we are to follow the inscription: ΤΥΧΗ NEAC
TPAIANHC BOCTPAC, and recognize the Tyche in the divinity on the reverse of a
coin of Antoninus Pius (Catalogue, no. 4. Fig. 4), an exception must be noted in that
here she carries a staff or lance in the left hand. This “Tyche” presents two other
variants from the usual standing type: (1) she holds a patera in her right hand, with
which she makes libation on an altar, while the other standing Tyches hold in this
hand a staff, usually surmounted by a trophy; (2) she stands in a distyle trabeated
temple, whereas on the coins of Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, and Julia Mamaea,
the temple is represented tetrastyle, and with an arcuated central intercolumniation
(Fig. 14, 15, 28). The left foot of the Tyche ordinarily rests on a prow, a lion, a
human or other indeterminate figure, but on two bronzes of Trajan Decius and of
Herennius and Hostilianus (Fig. 33, 39), this detail is difficult to confirm, and at the
Tyche’s feet, to the right, appears a little figure of Marsyas with a wine-skin on his
shoulder 36. One may consult the Catalogue for further details of the Tyche type, and its
most interesting phase is yet to be treated in connection with the representations of Ammon.
XXXIII
We are therefore left with the colonial type before-mentioned, on the coin of Elaga-
balus, as our only indication of the possession of colonial rights on the part of Bostra
before the reign of Severus Alexander. This coin shows clearly that Bostra was a
colony before the end of the reign of Elagabalus. But to apply the words of Damas-
cus to Septimius Severus, and date the foundation of the colony from his reign, involves
us in a numismatic difficulty, in that the colonial types, Latin inscriptions, and the title of
COLONIA, which we should expect to find on the coins of Septimius Severus and
Caracalla after the foundation of the colony, are absent. Moreover, even the coins of
Elagabalus are inscribed in Greek, omit the colonial title, and show no colonial types,
with the single exception which we have noted above. On this exceptional piece the
Latin legend contains two Greek letters, UU and P, as if the mint of Bostra had not yet
accustomed itself to the use of the new tongue. All this points to the conclusion that
colonial privileges were granted to Bostra toward the close of Elagabalus’ reign, and
being confirmed by Severus Alexander, were credited to this prince rather than to his
predecessor. It is with Alexander, therefore, that the consistent use of Latin legends
begins, and in his honor the city assumed the epithet ALEXANDRIANA which is found
on the coins of Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea (Catalogue, nos. 32, 40).
The coins show that the official title of the city was NEA TPAIANH BOCTPA
down to Caracalla’s reign, when we find on one piece the additional epithet of ANTLNI
(N I A N H) assumed in honor of that emperor (Catalogue, no. 23). Under Severus Alexan-
der and Julia Mamaea the city calls itself COLONIA BOSTRA, or NEA TRAIANA
ALEXANDRIANA COLONIA BOSTRA. From Philip Senior on, Bostra assumes the
title METROPOLIS, sharing -the honor with Petra, which had enjoyed the title since
the reign of Hadrian, and the designation of the city becomes COLONIA METROPOLIS
BOSTRA.
The most popular type on the coins of Bostra is the city Tyche, as a glance at
our plates will show. She appears on the bronzes of almost every reign from the
beginning to the end of the series. We see her in bust, wearing the characteristic
mural crown, or standing, clothed in tunic and palla. In her left hand she regularly
carries the cornucopia, which on coins of Caracalla, Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea
(Fig. 16, 25, 27) also accompanies the bust. But on a coin of Faustina Senior (Fig. 8),
her left hand rests on her hip, and if we are to follow the inscription: ΤΥΧΗ NEAC
TPAIANHC BOCTPAC, and recognize the Tyche in the divinity on the reverse of a
coin of Antoninus Pius (Catalogue, no. 4. Fig. 4), an exception must be noted in that
here she carries a staff or lance in the left hand. This “Tyche” presents two other
variants from the usual standing type: (1) she holds a patera in her right hand, with
which she makes libation on an altar, while the other standing Tyches hold in this
hand a staff, usually surmounted by a trophy; (2) she stands in a distyle trabeated
temple, whereas on the coins of Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, and Julia Mamaea,
the temple is represented tetrastyle, and with an arcuated central intercolumniation
(Fig. 14, 15, 28). The left foot of the Tyche ordinarily rests on a prow, a lion, a
human or other indeterminate figure, but on two bronzes of Trajan Decius and of
Herennius and Hostilianus (Fig. 33, 39), this detail is difficult to confirm, and at the
Tyche’s feet, to the right, appears a little figure of Marsyas with a wine-skin on his
shoulder 36. One may consult the Catalogue for further details of the Tyche type, and its
most interesting phase is yet to be treated in connection with the representations of Ammon.