Diana, the twin sister of Apollo, was not only the goddess of the hunt and of childbirth, but she was also identified with Luna, the moon. As the goddess of the moon, she wears a long robe which reaches down to her feet, a veil sometimes covers her head, and above her forehead or on her shoulders she bears the crescent of the moon. In her hand she typically appears holding a torch -- symbolic of moonlight -- as on many Roman imperial coins depicting her as Diana Lucifera ("Diana, the light-bearer"). Here are a couple of my Diana Lucifera coins. Let's see yours! Here she represents the deified Faustina II in the heavens: Faustina II, AD 161-175. Roman orichalcum Sestertius, 23.66 g, 30.2 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 176-180. Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: SIDERIBVS RECEPTA, Diva Faustina, as Diana Lucifera, draped, wearing crescent on shoulders behind neck, standing right, holding lighted long torch. Refs: RIC 1715; BMCRE 1584-88; Cohen 215; RCV (4th ed.; not in 5th) 1530. Lucilla, AD 164-182/3. Roman orichalcum Sestertius, 25.93 g, 30.0 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 164-166. Obv: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing right, holding transverse torch in both hands. Refs: RIC 1735; BMCRE 1143-45; Cohen 17; RCV --. Plautilla, AD 202-205. Roman AR denarius, 3.76 g, 20.2 mm. Rome, AD 205. Obv: PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and drape bust, right. Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left, holding flaming torch with both hands. Refs: RIC 366; BMCRE 420; RSC 13; RCV 7070; CRE 427.
JULIA DOMNA Fouree Denarius OBVERSE: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right REVERSE: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left, holding long torch with both hands Struck at Rome, 211-217 AD Struck under Caracalla 3,1 g; 18,3 mm RIC 373A [Caracalla]
Nice ! Diana Lucifera is a (small) sub-set of mine (I have too many I guess) Faustina Jr Julia Domna Plautilla Gordian III Q
Excuse me, but you're not the only moon goddess in town, Diana Lucifera! CARACALLA Scarce. AR Antoninianus. 5.19g, 24mm. Rome mint, AD 215. RIC 245c; BMCRE 121. O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Luna in biga of oxen galloping left, fold of drapery billowing in semicircle around head. Ex stevex6 Collection Luna in her ox biga, heralded by Hesperus, from the Parabiago Plate.
My only Diana Lucifera: (Yours is very nice @red_spork !) RImp P Clodius Mf Turrinus AR denarius 20mm 3.6g Rome 42 BCE Laureate hd Apollo R lyre - Diana Lucifera torches Cr 494-23 CRI 184 Syd 1117 And, I agree with @zumbly , we should NOT forget Luna! RR Anon 189-179 BCE AR Den Roma Luna Biga Sear 69 Craw 158-1 RR Furius Purpurio 169-157 BCE Roma Luna Biga Linear Frame murex shell Craw187-1
Very cool, @zumbly , and I like how it depicts a scene also found on the Parabiago patera! Lovely RR examples, @Alegandron and @red_spork ! No, we can't forget LVNA LVCIFERA! Here's one of Caracalla's mama, where Luna has the good fortune of having a horse-drawn biga: Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.07 g, 20.6 mm, 12:00. Rome mint under Caracalla, AD 215. Obv: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: LVNA LVCIFERA, Luna in biga of horses, galloping left, drapery billowing behind head. Refs: RIC 379c; BMCRE 10; Cohen 105; RCV 7101; Hill 1477.
The same type as Antoninian from my Collection, RIC 329(a). Roscher (Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie, Leipzig 1884-1937, online too) writes: Diana was the patroness of the biga race, Sol the patron of the quadriga race in the Circus maximus, following mythological beliefs. It would be nice to hear something about the meaning of the biga with oxen. May be that the horns of the oxen are an allusion to the horns of the crescent? Best regards Jochen
Congratulations on those very nice coins. And by the way Mr.Jochen, it’s a pleasure to have you here at CT. Your reputation precede you.Looking forward to see sample of your impressive collection !
Great variety of Dianas and Lunas bearing torches. Here are some more: Roman republican AR denarius P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus, Rome 42 BC Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right, Lyre behind Rev: Diana Lucifera standing right, holding two long torches, MF in left field, P CLODIVS in right field
My Corinthian stater has a control mark described as Artemis Phosphoros, who I suspect must be the Greek forebear/counterpart of Diana Lucifera? Greece (Corinth): silver stater; Pegasus and Athena, ca. 345-307 BC NGC AU; Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5. Original FORVM description: