ROME - Aquaduct with equestrian statue (Aqua Marcia)
L Marcius Philippus, AR Denarius, Crawford 425
ROME - Equestrian statue (on an aqueduct?)
Mn Aemilio Lepidus, AR Denarius, Crawford 291
ROME - Arch of Nero
The Arch of Nero was constructed to celebrate Corbulo’s victories against the Parthians and was erected sometime between 58 and 62 AD. It was located on the Capitoline Hill, between two groves near the temple of Veiovis.
The arch is faced with two Ionic columns. In a side niche there is an unidentified male statue and this may be a colossal statue of Nero himself. The structure is topped by a quadriga flanked by two further statues.
Nero, AE Sestertius, RIC cp 147
ROME - Trajan's column
ROME - Pons Sublicius
ROME - Cippus
Philip I, AR Antoninianus, RIC 24c
Philip I, AE As, RIC 162b
ROME - Crematorium of Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius, AE Sestertius, RIC 1266
ROME - Rostral column topped by Sol
Vespasian, AR Denarius, RIC 120
ROME - Rostrum
Lucius Verus, AE Sestertius, RIC 1299 (plate XIII, no. 255 same dies), BMC 1071a, C 64
Commodus, AE Sestertius, RIC 300
Commodus, AR Denarius, RIC -
ROME - Triumphal arch of Nero Claudius Drusus
Claudius, AE Sestertius, RIC 114
ROME - Cloaca Maxima
Marcus Aurelius, AE As, c. 179-80 AD, RIC 1247
AMASIA in PONTUS - Sacred shrine
Severus Alexander, AE 38mm, Rec Gen 107
ALEXANDRIA in EGYPT - The Pharos
ANTIOCHIA AD MAEANDRUM in CARIA - Bridge over the Maeander
Gallienus, AE 37mm, SNG von Aulock 2430
EMESA in SYRIA - Sacred stone of Emisa
Antoninus Pius, AE 23mm, BMC 1
SELEUCIA AD CALYCADNUM in CILICIA - Inscription to "Quintilius"
This is an interesting type in that it demonstrates two Roman monuments as being adjacent each other and yet they were set apart. We have the equestrian statue to Q Marcius Rex that surmounted the castellumthat stood before the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. He was responsible for extending the Aqua Marcia, important for the water supply for Rome, to the Capitoline and also for its repair. The statue appears to be sat on top of five arches of that structure.
ROME - Equestrian statue (on an aqueduct?)
Mn Aemilio Lepidus, AR Denarius, Crawford 291
ROME - Arch of Nero
The arch is faced with two Ionic columns. In a side niche there is an unidentified male statue and this may be a colossal statue of Nero himself. The structure is topped by a quadriga flanked by two further statues.
Nero, AE Sestertius, RIC cp 147
ROME - Trajan's column
Trajan's Column is a triumphal column in Rome, Italy, that commemorates Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. It was probably constructed under the supervision of the architect Apollodorus of Damascus at the order of the Roman Senate. It is located in Trajan's Forum, built near the Quirinal Hill, north of the Roman Forum. Completed in AD 113, the freestanding column is most famous for its spiral bas relief, which artistically describes the epic wars between the Romans and Dacians.
The structure is about 35 metres in height including its large pedestal.
Coins show a column with a statue of a bird initially, probably an eagle, but after construction, a statue of Trajan was put in place, as on this piece; this statue disappeared in the Middle Ages. On December 4, 1587, the top was crowned by Pope Sixtus V with a bronze figure of St. Peter, which remains to this day.
The structure is about 35 metres in height including its large pedestal.
Coins show a column with a statue of a bird initially, probably an eagle, but after construction, a statue of Trajan was put in place, as on this piece; this statue disappeared in the Middle Ages. On December 4, 1587, the top was crowned by Pope Sixtus V with a bronze figure of St. Peter, which remains to this day.
Trajan, AR Denarius, RIC 292
ROME - Pons Sublicius
Traditionally this structure is identified as Trajan’s bridge over the Danube designed by Apollodorus of Damascus. However the different appearance of the bridge on Trajan’s Column makes this identification doubtful.
The bridge may well be the Pons Sublicius in Rome across the Tiber. It was traditionally the first bridge in Rome to span the Tiber and, being constructed from wood, was frequently swept away. It was always rebuilt in wood as matter of religious practice.
The bridge may well be the Pons Sublicius in Rome across the Tiber. It was traditionally the first bridge in Rome to span the Tiber and, being constructed from wood, was frequently swept away. It was always rebuilt in wood as matter of religious practice.
Trajan, AE Sestertius, RIC 569a
ROME - Cippus
ROME - Crematorium of Antoninus Pius
The Ustrinum, or crematorium, of Antoninus Pius was a building topped, evidently, by a quadriga. It has been described by some authors as a pyre, and that suggests a temporary structure. The remains, discovered near the Piazza Montecitorio, west of the Corso (Regio X), suggest a more robust and permanent structure that was also used for the cremation of Faustina Sr, Pius’ who predeceased him by twenty years.
Antoninus Pius, AE Sestertius, RIC 1266
ROME - Rostral column topped by Sol
A coin type of Octavian, revived by Vespasian and Titus. The original had a statue of Octavian atop a column decorated by the beaks or prows of ships, when revived the statue had been transformed into Sol with an obvious radiate crown. This mayindicate an actual schange in the statue or be artistic license on behalf of the die engraver to show a venerated former emperor.
ROME - Rostrum
The rostra were the platforms, located in the Forum in Regio VIII near the Comitio, where the populace were addressed. The two coins below demonstrate such scenes with the imperial presence sat atop the structure, in the case of the second coin in an act of distributing a donativa.
ROME - Triumphal arch of Nero Claudius Drusus
ROME - Cloaca Maxima
L Mussidius Longus, denarius, c.42 BC, Crawford 494/42b
In Roman mythology, Cloacina was the goddess who presided over the Cloaca Maxima the main sewer drain in Rome. The Cloaca Maxima is traditionally said to have been started by one of Rome's Etruscan kings, Tarquinius Priscus. Despite her Etruscan origins, she later became identified with Venus. Titus Tatius, who reigned with Romulus, erected a statue to Cloacina as the spirit of the "Great Drain".
The Romans believed that a good sewage system was important for the success of Rome, as a good sewer system was necessary for the physical health of Roman citizens. At Rome’s peak, it is estimated that the sewer conveyed 100,000 pounds of human excrement daily. While most homes were not directly connected to the sewer, waste thrown in the street was washed into the drain.
Cloacina was worshipped as an aspect of Venus at the small Shrine of Venus Cloacina, located in front of the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman Forum and directly above the Cloaca Maxima. The depiction on the reverse of this coin is of that shrine.
The Romans believed that a good sewage system was important for the success of Rome, as a good sewer system was necessary for the physical health of Roman citizens. At Rome’s peak, it is estimated that the sewer conveyed 100,000 pounds of human excrement daily. While most homes were not directly connected to the sewer, waste thrown in the street was washed into the drain.
Cloacina was worshipped as an aspect of Venus at the small Shrine of Venus Cloacina, located in front of the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman Forum and directly above the Cloaca Maxima. The depiction on the reverse of this coin is of that shrine.
The Cloaca Maxima outlet today
ROME - Lupercal
At the south-western corner of the Palatine a cave was located that was traditionally the lair of the wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus. It was made into a shrine containing a statue of the wolf and twins, the Lupercal.
ALEXANDRIA in EGYPT - The Pharos
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, sometimes called the Pharos of Alexandria, was a tower built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom between 280 and 247 BC and was between 393 and 450 ft tall. It was one of the tallest man-made structures on Earth for many centuries, and was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Badly damaged by three earthquakes between 956 and 1323, it then became an abandoned ruin.
Constructed from large blocks of light-coloured stone, the tower was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and, at the top, a circular section. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night. A statue of Poseidon or Zeus stood atop the lighthouse. The Pharos' masonry blocks were interlocked, sealed together using molten lead, to withstand the pounding of the waves.
The Pharos can be seen as a rectangular structure to the right of a figure of Isis holding a billowing sail on this year 12 drachm of Antoninus Pius from Alexandria in Egypt.
Constructed from large blocks of light-coloured stone, the tower was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and, at the top, a circular section. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night. A statue of Poseidon or Zeus stood atop the lighthouse. The Pharos' masonry blocks were interlocked, sealed together using molten lead, to withstand the pounding of the waves.
The Pharos can be seen as a rectangular structure to the right of a figure of Isis holding a billowing sail on this year 12 drachm of Antoninus Pius from Alexandria in Egypt.
Antoninus Pius AE drachm, Dattari 2677-8
The Pharos sketched by the archaeologist Prof. H. Thiersch, 1909
ANTIOCHIA AD MAEANDRUM in CARIA - Bridge over the Maeander
The multi arched and decorated bridge over the River Maeander at Antioch in Caria features on a medallic bronze of Gallienus from the city. The reverse scene may be described as a bridge spanning the Maeandrus river; gateway to bridge to left,
surmounted by stork standing right; on parapet, river-god Maeandrus
reclining left, holding reed and cornucopia.
EMESA in SYRIA - Sacred stone of Emisa
SELEUCIA AD CALYCADNUM in CILICIA - Inscription to "Quintilius"
Gordian III, AE 32mm, SNG Levante 772v
SERDICA in THRACE - Fountain head
Septimius Severus, AE 17mm, Ruzicka -; Varbanov (Engl.) 1914; Hristova & Jekov 12.14.47.2
SIDON in PHOENICIA - Cart of Astarte
Julia Soaemias, AE 28mm, BMC-
APHACA in SYRIA - Temple to Aphrodite Aphacitis
SERDICA in THRACE - Fountain head
A fountain head, presumably a notable feature or perhaps restored by Severus, located in Serdica, perhaps a public drinking water source. Spouts are shown on three faces of the structure with water pouring forth.
SIDON in PHOENICIA - Cart of Astarte
APHACA in SYRIA - Temple to Aphrodite Aphacitis
An interesting theory has just been put forwards about the object that Venus is holding on this coin type (Woods, 2013). Traditionally it is described as Cupid, however there are no features associated with it. He, however, postulates that the object represents an object from the temple of Aphrodite Aphacitis in the territory of the Palmyrenes. He cites a passage from Zosimus:
“At Aphaca......there is a temple to Aphrodite Aphacitis.......a fire like lamp or sphere burns in the air”
Given that Aphrodite is the equivalent of Venus and the Aurelianic war against the Palmyrenes this interpretation does appear attractive.
“At Aphaca......there is a temple to Aphrodite Aphacitis.......a fire like lamp or sphere burns in the air”
Given that Aphrodite is the equivalent of Venus and the Aurelianic war against the Palmyrenes this interpretation does appear attractive.
Severina, AE Denarius, RIC 6
Detail from above
