04-08-2012, 07:53 AM
Without knowing any other find materials I doubt the 3rd century dating. I could be way off on this but the symbolism of Minerva is very telling. Minerva was probably at her height as a war deity during the reign of Domitian. She appears on almost every single type of Domitian's coins brandishing a shield and spear. She appeared earlier on coins of Claudius and later on coins of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. The latest one I could find was Clodius Albinus 193-195 CE (but there may be others).
By the third century most of the Capitoline god's were replaced on coinage with more abstract deities like Fides, Concordia and specifically with the god Sol. SOL INVICTO is a big theme for the military Emperor's, specifically Probus. But Sol also makes appearances with Quietus, Macrianus, Gallienus, Florianus, Maximianus and right up into Diocletian, Galarius, and Constantine. Sol Invicto becomes the new God to turn to in war, the unconquered sun. There is hardly a trace of the old god's Minerva and Mars blessing the efforts of the army, at least in coinage and that is where the Emperors try to get their story across to the people in general but specifically the army whom they had to pay. So the imagery on coins tells us a lot about what was happening in the Empire. Not only were the soldiers no longer Italian but the Emperor's weren't either, some not even residing or even visiting Rome. Minerva was mostly worshiped in Rome and generally only had war like qualities in Rome. Doesn't make sense to me that a soldier from the provinces would place Minerva on his umbo in the 3rd century.
That leads me to believe the 3rd century dating to be off and without knowing more would place this umbo in the 1-2 century. But that is just my belief. I'd love to hear other theories of why a 3rd century date.
By the third century most of the Capitoline god's were replaced on coinage with more abstract deities like Fides, Concordia and specifically with the god Sol. SOL INVICTO is a big theme for the military Emperor's, specifically Probus. But Sol also makes appearances with Quietus, Macrianus, Gallienus, Florianus, Maximianus and right up into Diocletian, Galarius, and Constantine. Sol Invicto becomes the new God to turn to in war, the unconquered sun. There is hardly a trace of the old god's Minerva and Mars blessing the efforts of the army, at least in coinage and that is where the Emperors try to get their story across to the people in general but specifically the army whom they had to pay. So the imagery on coins tells us a lot about what was happening in the Empire. Not only were the soldiers no longer Italian but the Emperor's weren't either, some not even residing or even visiting Rome. Minerva was mostly worshiped in Rome and generally only had war like qualities in Rome. Doesn't make sense to me that a soldier from the provinces would place Minerva on his umbo in the 3rd century.
That leads me to believe the 3rd century dating to be off and without knowing more would place this umbo in the 1-2 century. But that is just my belief. I'd love to hear other theories of why a 3rd century date.
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones"
Antony
The good is oft interred with their bones"
Antony
