@Justin Lee got hitched today!! Mega congrats, Justin!!! (There was a sizeable dowry, I trust? ) Here are a few interesting Roman marriage facts: • Engagement rings were common, worn on the third finger of the left hand... because it was thought a nerve went straight to the heart from there. (Awww... ) • Wedding ceremonies were avoided on the Kalends, Nones, and Ides of the month; it was also thought inauspicious to marry in February or May. Well done JL, we're past the Ides of June! And the Romans thought that June was an especially good month to get hitched. • A white robe and veil were traditional. As were yellow shoes. (Did she wear yellow shoes, JL?) • The words of acceptance spoken by both bride and groom were ""Quando tu Gaius, ego Gaia." (When-and where-you are Gaius, I then-and there-am Gaia.) The origins of this are pretty much a mystery. • The bride & groom sealed the deal by sharing some wedding cake, then it was time for the dinner party. After the party, nuts were thrown instead of rice. (Which seems kinda dangerous... ) • The bride also wore a special belt tied with "the knot of Hercules," which could only be untied by the groom. • After the ceremony, the bride was supposed to enter the house (and receive the keys) with spindle and distaff in hand. One tradition well disposed of! • And then (OK we'll skip that part so JL doesn't blush). • These traditions were based on confarreatio marriage between patricians, where the Flamen Dialis and Pontifex Maximus would have to preside. Confarreatio wasn't that common; lesser forms included usus, simple cohabitation. But these lesser forms of marriage would usually still be marked by a ceremony along these lines. • And we won't mention the changes to the marriage laws in the late republic which made divorce more feasible for women! I wish I had a more appropriate coin to post, since it's probably a bit premature to start talking about propagating the imperial line, but I certainly wanted to extend my congratulations, as I'm sure everyone else will too. Post your wedding coins, everyone!
Big ol' congrats, @Justin Lee! She's a lucky woman, I'm sure . Here's some marriage advice: make liberal use of three little words. Here's a couple coin. Erm, perhaps not the best example of connubial bliss . EGYPT, Alexandria. Elagabalus tetradrachm, 24 mm, 13.27 gm regnal year 4 Obv: laureate head right Rev: Elagabalus standing right and empress (Aquilia Severa or Annia Faustina) standing left, each holding scepter, clasping right hands; L ∆ across field Ref: Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 4098; K&G 56.43; Emmett 2929.4 (R4)
Great news! Hope the bride and groom had a great time and here's wishing many years of happiness!!! No marriage coins in my collection.
Congrats Justin Lee. I hope that you and your wife have a wonderful long life together. I am truly happy for you.
Congrats to @Justin Lee. May you and yours share many wonderful years together. Here is an old joke for you. In 445 BCE a law was passed allowing patricians to marry plebeians. It was called the lex Canuleia "So that, you see, if Miss Plebs wanted Mr. Patrician to marry her, and he said he couldn't, she probably replied: 'Oh yes, you can, you liar!' " (Goodbye Mr Chips)
Wow, congrats @Justin Lee, and excellent post, Sev! Best wishes and three words for the newly minted couple : CONCORDIA CONCORDIA CONCORDIA! AURELIAN AE As. 7.1g, 24.5mm. Rome mint, Jan-Sep AD 275. RIC 80; Sear 11646; C 35; New RIC V online temp #1878. O: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right. R: CONCORDIA AVG, Aurelian and Severina clasping hands, radiate bust of Sol between them; delta in exergue.
Best wishes for a long happy marriage. This is life. Cheers.. Here's the obverse of a coin struck at Singara in Mesopotamia. The imperial couple are undoubtedly exchanging looks of deeply sincere love. Gordian and Tranquillina.
"Mawwiage... that bwessed ewent... that dweam... within... a dweam..." Congrats to Justin Lee and Mrs. Justin Lee!
Congrats, may your marriage be a heck of a lot happier than Caracalla's and Plautilla. Well, technically any marriage that doesn't end in forced exile and murder is, I suppose....
Congrats and best wishes to you! Here’s one of a happy couple: Septimius Severus - Julia Domna AD 193-211. Moesia Inferior. Marcianopolis. AE Pentassarion, (28 mm., 14.09 g.)
Congrats @Justin Lee ! Below are a few ancient couples in honor of your big day. Here is one of the few ancient couples that we have evidence that they actually had a happy marriage! ...and here’s a 3rd century power couple