Beschreibung
Erhaltung: ss / vz à vz- | Abkürzungen
Katalognummer: Mars
Durchmesser: 24,00 mm
weight 12,17gr. | copper Ø 24mm.
obv. Laureate bust of Severus right, light drapery on left shoulder,
surrounded by the legend IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG
rev. Mars, helmeted, walking right, holding spear in right hand and
shield in left hand, SC across field, surrounded by the legend
MARS VLTOR
Mars was the god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and he was the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army. Most of his festivals were held in March, the month named for him (Latin Martius), and in October, which began the season for military campaigning and ended the season for farming. Augustus created the cult of Mars the Avenger (Mars Ultor) to mark two occasions: his defeat of the assassins of Caesar at Philippi in 42 BC, and the negotiated return of the Roman battle standards that had been lost to the Parthians at the Battle of Carrhae in 53 BC. The god is depicted wearing a cuirass and helmet and standing in a martial pose, leaning on a lance he holds in his right hand. He holds a shield in his left hand. The Temple of Mars Ultor, dedicated in 2 BC in the center of the Forum of Augustus, gave the god a new place of honor. The goddess Ultio, a divine personification of vengeance, had an altar and golden statue in his temple. Cohen| RIC 637a | BMC 851 | cf. Sear 8065 R
vf/xf à xf-
