The Buckner Clay Endowment for the Humanities Center
The Buckner Clay Endowment for the Humanities Center for the Liberal Arts Archaeological Institute of America Archaeology Workshop March 14, 2015
Roman coins, Roman history, and succession to power: UVA digital images and your classes John Dobbins Professor of Classical Art & Archaeology Mc. Intire Department of Art University of Virginia
Fun with Roman Coins!
Telling stories with Roman Coins!
The UVA Coin Website coins. lib. virginia. edu
Caligula Augustus Claudius Tiberius Caligula Nero
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors Caligula Augustus 27 BC-AD 14 Claudius 41 -54 Tiberius 14 -37 Nero 54 -68 Caligula 37 -41
Ancient coins are “struck. ” They are not “cast. ” 1. Engrave two dies: obv. & rev.
Ancient coins are “struck. ” They are not “cast. ” 1. Engrave two dies: obv. & rev. 2. Set the obv. die into the anvil and the rev. die onto a punch
Ancient coins are “struck. ” They are not “cast. ” 1. Engrave two dies: obv. & rev. 2. Set the obv. die into the anvil and the rev. die onto a punch
A precious metal coinage Gold Silver Orichalcum (brass: copper , zinc, cadmium) Bronze (copper & tin) aureus denarius sestertius 25 denarii 400 asses 16 asses 4 asses as
From The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. 1, revised edition, 1984, p. 3
The problem of succession in the Roman empire
The problem of succession in the Roman empire: Lacking a systematic policy, what are the possibilities for achieving the transition from one emperor to the next?
YOUR LIST:
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out 2. Have a son
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out 2. Have a son 3. Adopt an heir
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out 2. Have a son 3. Adopt an heir 4. Turn it over to powerful women
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out 2. Have a son 3. Adopt an heir 4. Turn it over to powerful women 5. Assassinate the emperor
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out. 2. Have a son 3. Adopt an heir 4. Turn it over to powerful women 5. Assassinate the emperor 5 A. . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out. 2. Have a son 3. Adopt an heir 4. Turn it over to powerful women 5. Assassinate the emperor 5 A. . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor 5 B. . and let the Praetorian Guard auction off the empire to the highest bidder.
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out. 2. Have a son 3. Adopt an heir 4. Turn it over to powerful women 5. Assassinate the emperor 5 A. . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor 5 B. . and let the Praetorian Guard auction off the empire to the highest bidder. 5 C. . and take power yourself!
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out. 2. Have a son 3. Adopt an heir 4. Turn it over to powerful women 5. Assassinate the emperor 5 A. . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor 5 B. . and let the Praetorian Guard auction off the empire to the highest bidder. 5 C. . and take power yourself! 6. When there is a power vacuum, seize power
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out. 2. Have a son 3. Adopt an heir 4. Turn it over to powerful women 5. Assassinate the emperor 5 A. . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor 5 B. . and let the Praetorian Guard auction off the empire to the highest bidder. 5 C. . and take power yourself! 6. When there is a power vacuum, seize power 7. Retire and let your pre-selected successor take the job
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors Augustus 27 BC-AD 14 Claudius 41 -54 Tiberius 14 -37 Caligula 37 -41 Nero 54 -68
Augustus Good planning -- Bad luck! Term: exergue Not UVA
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Caesar Augustus, son of the Deified (Julius), Father of the Country
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Caesar Augustus, son of the Deified (Julius), Father of the Country Rev. C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT Gaius and Lucius Caesar, sons of Augustus, consuls designate, leaders of the youth
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Rev. C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT Gaius: b. 20 BC; d. AD 4 Lucius: b. 17 BC; d. AD 2
Not UVA
Rev. TI CAESAR AVG F TR POT XV Tiberius Caesar, son of Augustus, with tribunician power for the 15 th time
How did Tiberius plan? He didn’t, at least not initially. Augustus meddled and planned for him. Drusus Germanicus Drusus the Younger
How did Tiberius plan? He didn’t, at least not initially. Augustus meddled and planned for him. Drusus Germanicus Drusus the Younger Germanicus died in 19
Upon the death of Germanicus in 19, Drusus the Younger became the new heir. As of Tiberius depicting his son Drusus
Upon the death of Germanicus in 19, Drusus the Younger became the new heir. As of Tiberius depicting his son Drusus DRVSUS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N
Obv. DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N Drusus Caesar, son of Tiberius Augustus, grandson of the deified Augustus
Good news! Also in 19, Drusus and his wife Livilla give birth to twin sons, Tiberius Gemellus & Germanicus Gemellus!!!
SC Senatus consulto By decree of the Senate Rev. DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N PONT TR POT II Drusus Caesar, son of Tiberius Augustus, grandson of the Deified Augustus, Priest, with tribunician power for the second time
Drusus and his son, Germanicus Gemellus die in 23. Tiberius must make new plans. Key words: Caligula, Capri, Tiberius Gemellus, Sejanus Tiberius dies in 37
Caligula (Gaius) 37 -41 Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder Not UVA
Caligula (Gaius) 37 -41 Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder
Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder Agrippina: grand daughter of Augustus
Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder Agrippina: grand daughter of Augustus Germanicus (C’s father): son of Tiberius’ brother; grandson of Livia
Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder Agrippina: grand daughter of Augustus Germanicus (C’s father): son of Tiberius’ brother; grandson of Livia Caligula: great grandson of Augustus great grandson of Livia
A brief summary of Caligula’s reign: excess, incest, and unfinished aqueducts Assassinated in 41 Not UVA
Claudius 41 -54
Claudius Agrippina the Younger sister of Caligula
Claudius Agrippina the Younger Persuades Claudius to adopt her son, Nero
Claudius Agrippina the Younger The poison mushroom caper of 54. (This was not good for Claudius )
Not UVA Nero Agrippina the Younger
Obv. Agrippina, wife of the deified Claudius, mother of Nero Caesar
Obv. Agrippina, wife of the deified Claudius, mother of Nero Caesar Rev. For Nero Caesar Augustus Germanicus, son of the deified Claudius, imperator, with tribunician power By decree of the Senate
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors Augustus 27 BC-AD 14 Claudius 41 -54 Tiberius 14 -37 Caligula 37 -41 Nero 54 -68
Civil War!
Year 68 -69 “The year of the four emperors” Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian
Vesapasian Titus Flavius Vespasianus Flavian Dynasty Vespasian Titus Domitian
- Slides: 66