Early Roman Empire   :|:   Document

Port of Ostia on Commodus medallion

ref. : en.829.2013 | 8 June 2013 | by Francis Leveque
médaillon | End of IIe century AD
Rome, Latium ( Italie )
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Commodus bronze medallion circa 189-190 AD, 73.11 g.

Atelier : Rome

Verso :

IMP COMMODVS AVG PIVS FELIX
traduction : Imperator Commodus Augustus Pius Felix
Description : Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r.

Revers :

VOTIS FELICIBVS
traduction : Voeux de félicité
Description : Commodus, veiled, sacrificing at tripod placed at the entrance of a harbour towards which five vessels are approaching; a priest standing by the tripod accompanies the Emperor. On r., a pharos and beneath, on the sea-shore, a slain bull.
Commodus sacrifice a bull to the success of the supply of Rome.

One of the vessels leading to the right, the mainsail swollen and has a pole mounted to the front. Around him the boats moved to the trains are likely to move in the harbor.

        

Bibliography :

  • , n° 906
  • , The British Museum. Catalogue of the Greek Coins (BMC), Londres , 1873-1927 (réimpr. 1963-1965), pl. CLXXXIII
  • H.A. Grueber , Roman medallions in the British museum, Trustees of the British Museum, London , 1874, p.30, 44, pl. XXXV, 3
  • F. Gnecchi, I Medaglioni romani, descritti ed. illustrati. , U. Hoepli, Milano , 1912, p.71, 175, pl. 89, 7
  • M. Malaise, Les conditions de pénétration et de diffusion des cultes égyptiens en Italie , E.J. Brill, Leiden , 1972, p.433-434
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