Dr Crom

A composite image. In the upper register, a section of Roman wall plaster with an incised graffito; in the lower register, a modern transcription of the message.

Ancient Graffito of the Day:

A spot of ancient scatological scribbling here with this titbit from the latrine in the House of the Gem, Herculaneum:

"Apollinaris medicus Titi Imp
hic cacavit bene"

'Apollinaris, doctor of the Emperor Titus,
Shat well here'

#AGOTD 🏺

Image: CIL 4.10619

Ancient Coin of the Day: Something a little niche today, with coins issued by the interesting figure of Vetranio in AD 350, starting with this rather fabulous solidus. #ACOTD #Numismatics 🏺 🧵

Image: RIC VIII Siscia 260; Münzkabinett Wien (RÖ 28121). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

Sign the Petition Keep the Classical Languages Major at the University of Iowa

Hi friends. As I previously noted, the U. of Iowa is planning to get rid of African American studies; Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies, & the Classical Languages major—along with others. If you wish, please sign the classics petition: www.change.org/p/keep-the-c.... I will add more as I find out.

A composite image. In the upper register, a section of Roman wall plaster with an incised graffito; in the lower register, a modern transcription of the message.

Ancient Graffito of the Day:

A spot of ancient scatological scribbling here with this titbit from the latrine in the House of the Gem, Herculaneum:

"Apollinaris medicus Titi Imp
hic cacavit bene"

'Apollinaris, doctor of the Emperor Titus,
Shat well here'

#AGOTD 🏺

Image: CIL 4.10619

For more on these fascinating coins and Vetranio, see:

DEARN, ALAN. “The Coinage of Vetranio: Imperial Representation and the Memory of Constantine the Great.” The Numismatic Chronicle (1966-), vol. 163, 2003, pp. 169–191.

jstor.org/stable/42667...

#ACOTD #Numismatics 🏺 🧵

This choice of Legend perhaps reflects a deliberate decision by Vetranio to align himself with Constantine’s legacy and thereby also showing himself to be associated with Constantius II, as his one remaining son.

Surely the phrase was deliberately chosen to allude to the ‘prophetic vision’ of Constantine? That is to say, his seeing the Chi-Rho sign in the heavens – an event which is typically (though not universally) associated with his victory at the Milvian Bridge.

One telling element could be the explicit use of Constantinian iconography, as on this bronze issue with the Reverse Legend HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS – ‘By this sign, you will be victor’.

Image: RIC VIII Siscia 292; British Museum (B.3656). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

A key question on Vetranio’s brief reign is the extent to which he was consciously subordinate to Constantius II throughout the period, as there is much debate about the intentions behind his actions. Recent work on his coinage plays into this.

The coins of the two mints are varied in their Reverses, but there is a tendency for militaristic elements, as on this bronze, which perhaps suggests that they were minted as donative issues on his accession.

Image: RIC VIII Thessalonica 132. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

The Reverse is fabulous! It shows Vetranio bearing a Chi-Rho banner, being crowned by Victory, with the Legend SALVATOR - REI – PVBLICAE – ‘The Saviour of the State’ – very much suggesting the role which Vetranio advertised himself as holding.

The Obverse of our first coin shows a laureate and cuirassed bust of Vetranio, with the Legend D N VETRANIO P F AVG – ‘Our Lord, Vetranio Augustus, Pious and Blessed’. It was minted at Siscia, which along with Thessalonica would produce all his coins.

#OnThisDay - 1 March - in AD 350 Vetranio was himself declared emperor, a position which he held until 25 December of that year, abdicating in favour of Constantius II. Thus all of Vetranio’s coinage comes from this brief 9 month floruit.

Vetranio was the ‘magister peditum’ of Constans, the youngest son of Constantine, who had been deposed by Magnentius. He resisted the eastern movement of Magnentius, holding Illyricum against him.

Image: RIC VIII Treveri 247; ANS 1944.100.20641. Link – numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

Ancient Coin of the Day: Something a little niche today, with coins issued by the interesting figure of Vetranio in AD 350, starting with this rather fabulous solidus. #ACOTD #Numismatics 🏺 🧵

Image: RIC VIII Siscia 260; Münzkabinett Wien (RÖ 28121). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

#FrescoFriday - A painted ceiling panel discovered in February 1772 in the bath complex at the Villa of Diomedes, Pompeii (HGW24). A wryly-grinning Medusa head set within a border dominated by four cornucopiae. #Pompeii #Artchaeology 🏺

Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (9973)

Obverse of a Roman Medallion: Bust of Constantine I, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right.

Reverse of a Roman Medallion: Constantine I, draped, standing front in quadriga, scattering coins with right hand and holding eagle-tipped sceptre in left hand.

#OnThisDay - 27 February - likely in AD 272 the future Emperor Constantine was born at Naissus in the province of Moesia (Niš, Serbia). He would be acclaimed emperor on 25 July AD 306. #History 🏺

Image: RIC VII Nicomedia 170; Münzkabinett Wien (RÖ 37353). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

#FrescoFriday - A painted ceiling panel discovered in February 1772 in the bath complex at the Villa of Diomedes, Pompeii (HGW24). A wryly-grinning Medusa head set within a border dominated by four cornucopiae. #Pompeii #Artchaeology 🏺

Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (9973)

#OnThisDay - 25 February - in AD 50 Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, the son of Agrippina, was adopted at the age of 12 by the emperor Claudius and was given a new name: Nero. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC Claudius 121; Münzkabinett Berlin (18213948). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

Obverse of a Roman aureus: Head of Galerius, laureate, right.

Reverse of a Roman aureus: Jupiter, chlamys hanging behind, standing left (or standing front, head left), holding thunderbolt in right hand and leaning on sceptre with left hand.

#OnThisDay - 23 February - in AD 303 the emperors Galerius and Diocletian are believed to have begun their official persecutions of Christians, beginning with the destruction of the church at Nicomedia. #History 🏺

Image: RIC VI Nicomedia 33; ANS 1948.19.279. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

#OnThisDay - 21 February - in AD 4 Gaius Caesar, grandson of Augustus, died in Lycia, aged 22. He had been adopted by Augustus in 17 BC and given a series of honours marking him out as a likely successor. #History 🏺

Image: RIC Augustus 198; ANS 1909.78.22. Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

Obverse of a Roman aureus: Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right.

Reverse of a Roman aureus: Senator standing right, left, holding sceptre and sacrificing over altar, facing Genius, standing left, right, holding cornucopiae.

#OnThisDay - 20 February - in AD 116 Trajan despatched "laureatae missae" ('laurelled letters') back to the Senate, denoting his claim of victory for his campaign against Parthia. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC II Trajan 373; British Museum (1867,0101.662). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

#FrescoFriday - Discovered #OnThisDay - 20 February - in 1851 at the Scavo del Principe di Montenegro, Pompeii (VII.16.10), a scene that is typically identified as Omphale, the Lydian Queen, looking down on a drunken Hercules . #Pompeii 🏺

Image: National Archaeological Museum, Naples (9000)

Obverse of a Roman aureus: Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right.

Reverse of a Roman aureus: Senator standing right, left, holding sceptre and sacrificing over altar, facing Genius, standing left, right, holding cornucopiae.

#OnThisDay - 20 February - in AD 116 Trajan despatched "laureatae missae" ('laurelled letters') back to the Senate, denoting his claim of victory for his campaign against Parthia. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC II Trajan 373; British Museum (1867,0101.662). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

Thank you kindly! 😊

I'll add it to the business card!

A detail from a larger Roman mosaic of chariot-racing in a Circus. Two quadrigae speed along the upper register, as well as a 'safety rider' mounted on a horse. Below one can see the egg and dolphin lap-counters on the Circus' spina.

I adore this superb chariot racing mosaic: ca. 2nd Century AD. Discovered #OnThisDay - February 18 - in Lyon in 1806, the elements of the Circus' 'spina' are especially plain to see. #Roman #Archaeology 🏺

Image: Lugdunum Museum (2000.0.1209). Link - lugdunum.grandlyon.com/fr/Oeuvre/14...

A detail from a larger Roman mosaic of chariot-racing in a Circus. Two quadrigae speed along the upper register, as well as a 'safety rider' mounted on a horse. Below one can see the egg and dolphin lap-counters on the Circus' spina.

I adore this superb chariot racing mosaic: ca. 2nd Century AD. Discovered #OnThisDay - February 18 - in Lyon in 1806, the elements of the Circus' 'spina' are especially plain to see. #Roman #Archaeology 🏺

Image: Lugdunum Museum (2000.0.1209). Link - lugdunum.grandlyon.com/fr/Oeuvre/14...

#OnThisDay - 17 February - in AD 364 the briefly-reigning Roman Emperor Jovian died, while travelling from Ancyra to Constantinople. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RIC VIII Sirmium 115; ANS (1944.100.21071). Link - numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....

#OnThisDay - 17 February - the Romans celebrated the Quirinalia, the rites of Quirinus - the name ascribed to Romulus following his death and deification (cf. Ovid, Fasti II.475vv.). #Rome 🏺

Image: RRC 427/2; BnF (REP-15138). Link - numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-...