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Die Triumphatordarstellung auf Münzen und Medaillons in Prinzipat und Spätantike

  • Peter Franz Mittag
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Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike
This chapter is in the book Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike

Abstract

During imperial times the use of a depiction of the emperor in a quadriga on Roman imperial coins and medallions underwent several changes. While such coins were produced only on occasions of real triumphs during the first century - with a significant peak under the Flavians - Antoninus Pius used these images to propagate a processus consularis. Septimius Severus then expanded the range of occasions. Some coins were struck to promote his sons as successors, others were produced without any readily identifiable specific occasion. Thus the image was available to symbolize the emperor’s status and general capacity for victory. But the following emperors used the image mainly as reflection of the processus consularis. For that reason Probus had to invent a new depiction when he wanted to promote his real triumph in AD 281. His solution was the amplification of horses from four to six. A few years later Carinus and Numerianus solved the problem by adding a legend hinting directly at Carinus’ triumph. During the tetrarchy things changed again. The usual depiction for the processus consularis was at first replaced by an elephant drawn quadriga and later on by the standing emperor. For that reason the traditional depiction of the emperor in quadriga was again available. Since the Constantinian dynasty it was generally used on the occasion of the emperor’s jubilees or other festivities until it disappeared during the seventh century.

Abstract

During imperial times the use of a depiction of the emperor in a quadriga on Roman imperial coins and medallions underwent several changes. While such coins were produced only on occasions of real triumphs during the first century - with a significant peak under the Flavians - Antoninus Pius used these images to propagate a processus consularis. Septimius Severus then expanded the range of occasions. Some coins were struck to promote his sons as successors, others were produced without any readily identifiable specific occasion. Thus the image was available to symbolize the emperor’s status and general capacity for victory. But the following emperors used the image mainly as reflection of the processus consularis. For that reason Probus had to invent a new depiction when he wanted to promote his real triumph in AD 281. His solution was the amplification of horses from four to six. A few years later Carinus and Numerianus solved the problem by adding a legend hinting directly at Carinus’ triumph. During the tetrarchy things changed again. The usual depiction for the processus consularis was at first replaced by an elephant drawn quadriga and later on by the standing emperor. For that reason the traditional depiction of the emperor in quadriga was again available. Since the Constantinian dynasty it was generally used on the occasion of the emperor’s jubilees or other festivities until it disappeared during the seventh century.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Inhalt IX
  3. Abkürzungen XI
  4. Verzeichnis der Karten XII
  5. Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike 1
  6. Teil 1: Der römische Triumph im frühen Prinzipat
  7. The Late Republican Triumph 29
  8. Die Transformation des Triumphes in augusteischer Zeit 59
  9. Tracht, Insignien und Performanz des Triumphators zwischen später Republik und früher Kaiserzeit 83
  10. Die Triumphe der julisch-claudischen Zeit 103
  11. Teil 2: Der römische Triumph in der hohen Kaiserzeit
  12. Josephus’ Portrait of the Flavian Triumph in Historical and Literary Context 125
  13. Die Dynamik von Herrschaftsdarstellung und Triumphideologie im ausgehenden 1. und frühen 2. Jh. 177
  14. Sieg und Triumph in der Zeit von Antoninus Pius bis Commodus 215
  15. Der Triumph im Dienste dynastischer Politik 255
  16. Die Stadt Rom als triumphaler Raum und ideologischer Rahmen in der Kaiserzeit 283
  17. Turning Victory into Defeat 317
  18. Teil 3: Der römische Triumph im dezentralisierten Imperium
  19. Two Third-Century Triumphal Decennalia (ad 202 and 262) 337
  20. Zwischen Severus Alexanders Triumph über die Sāsāniden im Jahre 233 und den Triumphfeierlichkeiten Diocletians und Maximians im Jahre 303 357
  21. Triumph in the Decentralized Empire 397
  22. Die Triumphatordarstellung auf Münzen und Medaillons in Prinzipat und Spätantike 419
  23. Teil 4: Der römische Triumph in der Spätantike
  24. Der römische Triumph und das Christentum 455
  25. Roma tardoantica come spazio della rappresentazione trionfale 487
  26. The Topography of Triumph in Late-Antique Constantinople 511
  27. The Decline and Fall of the Ancient Triumph 555
  28. Indizes (Namen, Orte, Begriffe, triumphale Inszenierungen) 569
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110448009-017

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Inhalt IX
  3. Abkürzungen XI
  4. Verzeichnis der Karten XII
  5. Der römische Triumph in Prinzipat und Spätantike 1
  6. Teil 1: Der römische Triumph im frühen Prinzipat
  7. The Late Republican Triumph 29
  8. Die Transformation des Triumphes in augusteischer Zeit 59
  9. Tracht, Insignien und Performanz des Triumphators zwischen später Republik und früher Kaiserzeit 83
  10. Die Triumphe der julisch-claudischen Zeit 103
  11. Teil 2: Der römische Triumph in der hohen Kaiserzeit
  12. Josephus’ Portrait of the Flavian Triumph in Historical and Literary Context 125
  13. Die Dynamik von Herrschaftsdarstellung und Triumphideologie im ausgehenden 1. und frühen 2. Jh. 177
  14. Sieg und Triumph in der Zeit von Antoninus Pius bis Commodus 215
  15. Der Triumph im Dienste dynastischer Politik 255
  16. Die Stadt Rom als triumphaler Raum und ideologischer Rahmen in der Kaiserzeit 283
  17. Turning Victory into Defeat 317
  18. Teil 3: Der römische Triumph im dezentralisierten Imperium
  19. Two Third-Century Triumphal Decennalia (ad 202 and 262) 337
  20. Zwischen Severus Alexanders Triumph über die Sāsāniden im Jahre 233 und den Triumphfeierlichkeiten Diocletians und Maximians im Jahre 303 357
  21. Triumph in the Decentralized Empire 397
  22. Die Triumphatordarstellung auf Münzen und Medaillons in Prinzipat und Spätantike 419
  23. Teil 4: Der römische Triumph in der Spätantike
  24. Der römische Triumph und das Christentum 455
  25. Roma tardoantica come spazio della rappresentazione trionfale 487
  26. The Topography of Triumph in Late-Antique Constantinople 511
  27. The Decline and Fall of the Ancient Triumph 555
  28. Indizes (Namen, Orte, Begriffe, triumphale Inszenierungen) 569
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