Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
April 4th: CARACALLA the tyrant is born.
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Limes, post: 7370740, member: 101013"]Thanks for the write up!</p><p>The coins of the Severan dynasty contain some spectacular types and good quality specimens are quite accessable. Caracalla is no exception.</p><p><br /></p><p>Two of mine:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1284137[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1284138[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This sestertius commemorates his 'domination' of Alexandria... Herodian, via livius.org:</p><p><br /></p><p>[4.9.1] [216] When they saw what the emperor was doing, the people rejoiced and celebrated, making merry the whole night long, but they did not know his secret intent. In all his actions <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/caracalla/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/caracalla/" rel="nofollow">Caracalla</a> was playing the hypocrite; his true plan was to destroy most of them. The source of the enmity he was concealing was this.</p><p><br /></p><p>[4.9.2] While he was still living in Rome, both during his brother's lifetime and after his murder, it was reported to him that the <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/alexandria/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/alexandria/" rel="nofollow">Alexandrians</a> were making endless jokes about him. The people of that city are by nature fond of jesting at the expense of those in high places. However witty these clever remarks may seem to those who make them, they are very painful to those who are ridiculed.</p><p><br /></p><p>[4.9.3] Particularly galling are quips that reveal one's shortcomings. Thus they made many jokes at the emperor's expense about his murdering his <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/geta/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/geta/" rel="nofollow">brother</a>, calling his aged mother Jocasta, and mocking him because, in his insignificance, he imitated the bravest and greatest of heroes, <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/alexander-the-great/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/person/alexander-the-great/" rel="nofollow">Alexander</a> and Achilles. But although they thought they were merely joking about these matters, in reality they were causing the naturally savage and quick-tempered Caracalla to plot their destruction.</p><p><br /></p><p>[4.9.4] The emperor therefore joined the Alexandrians in celebrating and merrymaking. When he observed that the city was overflowing with people who had come in from the surrounding area, he issued a public proclamation directing all the young men to assemble in a broad plain, saying that he wished to organize a<a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/phalanx/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/phalanx/" rel="nofollow">phalanx</a> in honor of Alexander similar to his <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/macedonia/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/macedonia/" rel="nofollow">Macedonian</a> and <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/sparta/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/sparta/" rel="nofollow">Spartan</a> battalions, this unit to bear the name of the hero.</p><p><br /></p><p>[4.9.5] He ordered the youths to form in rows so that he might approach each one and determine whether his age, size of body, and state of health qualified him for military service. Believing him to be sincere, all the youths, quite reasonably hopeful because of the honor he had previously paid the city, assembled with their parents and brothers, who had come to celebrate the youths' expectations.</p><p><br /></p><p>[4.9.6] Caracalla now approached them as they were drawn up in groups and passed among them, touching each youth and saying a word of praise to this one and that one until his entire army had surrounded them. The youths did not notice or suspect anything. After he had visited them all, he judged that they were now trapped in the net of steel formed by his soldiers' weapons, and left the field, accompanied by his personal bodyguard. At a given signal the soldiers fell upon the encircled youths, attacking them and any others present. They cut them down, these armed soldiers fighting against unarmed, surrounded boys, butchering them in every conceivable fashion.</p><p><br /></p><p>[4.9.7] Some did the killing while others outside the ring dug huge trenches; they dragged those who had fallen to these trenches and threw them in, filling the ditch with bodies. Piling on earth, they quickly raised a huge burial mound. Many were thrown in half-alive, and others were forced in unwounded.</p><p><br /></p><p>[4.9.8] A number of soldiers perished there too; for all who were thrust into the trench alive, if they had the strength, clung to their killers and pulled them in with them. So great was the slaughter that the wide mouths of the <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/nile/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/nile/" rel="nofollow">Nile</a> and the entire shore around the city were stained red by the streams of blood flowing through the plain. After these monstrous deeds, Caracalla left Alexandria and returned to <a href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/antioch-antakya/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.livius.org/articles/place/antioch-antakya/" rel="nofollow">Antioch</a>.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Limes, post: 7370740, member: 101013"]Thanks for the write up! The coins of the Severan dynasty contain some spectacular types and good quality specimens are quite accessable. Caracalla is no exception. Two of mine: [ATTACH=full]1284137[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1284138[/ATTACH] This sestertius commemorates his 'domination' of Alexandria... Herodian, via livius.org: [4.9.1] [216] When they saw what the emperor was doing, the people rejoiced and celebrated, making merry the whole night long, but they did not know his secret intent. In all his actions [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/person/caracalla/']Caracalla[/URL] was playing the hypocrite; his true plan was to destroy most of them. The source of the enmity he was concealing was this. [4.9.2] While he was still living in Rome, both during his brother's lifetime and after his murder, it was reported to him that the [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/place/alexandria/']Alexandrians[/URL] were making endless jokes about him. The people of that city are by nature fond of jesting at the expense of those in high places. However witty these clever remarks may seem to those who make them, they are very painful to those who are ridiculed. [4.9.3] Particularly galling are quips that reveal one's shortcomings. Thus they made many jokes at the emperor's expense about his murdering his [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/person/geta/']brother[/URL], calling his aged mother Jocasta, and mocking him because, in his insignificance, he imitated the bravest and greatest of heroes, [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/person/alexander-the-great/']Alexander[/URL] and Achilles. But although they thought they were merely joking about these matters, in reality they were causing the naturally savage and quick-tempered Caracalla to plot their destruction. [4.9.4] The emperor therefore joined the Alexandrians in celebrating and merrymaking. When he observed that the city was overflowing with people who had come in from the surrounding area, he issued a public proclamation directing all the young men to assemble in a broad plain, saying that he wished to organize a[URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/phalanx/']phalanx[/URL] in honor of Alexander similar to his [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/place/macedonia/']Macedonian[/URL] and [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/place/sparta/']Spartan[/URL] battalions, this unit to bear the name of the hero. [4.9.5] He ordered the youths to form in rows so that he might approach each one and determine whether his age, size of body, and state of health qualified him for military service. Believing him to be sincere, all the youths, quite reasonably hopeful because of the honor he had previously paid the city, assembled with their parents and brothers, who had come to celebrate the youths' expectations. [4.9.6] Caracalla now approached them as they were drawn up in groups and passed among them, touching each youth and saying a word of praise to this one and that one until his entire army had surrounded them. The youths did not notice or suspect anything. After he had visited them all, he judged that they were now trapped in the net of steel formed by his soldiers' weapons, and left the field, accompanied by his personal bodyguard. At a given signal the soldiers fell upon the encircled youths, attacking them and any others present. They cut them down, these armed soldiers fighting against unarmed, surrounded boys, butchering them in every conceivable fashion. [4.9.7] Some did the killing while others outside the ring dug huge trenches; they dragged those who had fallen to these trenches and threw them in, filling the ditch with bodies. Piling on earth, they quickly raised a huge burial mound. Many were thrown in half-alive, and others were forced in unwounded. [4.9.8] A number of soldiers perished there too; for all who were thrust into the trench alive, if they had the strength, clung to their killers and pulled them in with them. So great was the slaughter that the wide mouths of the [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/place/nile/']Nile[/URL] and the entire shore around the city were stained red by the streams of blood flowing through the plain. After these monstrous deeds, Caracalla left Alexandria and returned to [URL='https://www.livius.org/articles/place/antioch-antakya/']Antioch[/URL].[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
April 4th: CARACALLA the tyrant is born.
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...