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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GinoLR, post: 24804694, member: 128351&quot;]Ulpian, Digest [50.15.1.3]: <i>There is also the colony of Laodicea, in Coele Syria, to which also the divine Severus granted the Italian Law on account of its services in the Civil War</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Before Severus, Laodicea was one of the &quot;Four Sisters&quot; founded by Seleucus I Nikator (reigned 305-281 BC). He founded 4 cities : Antiochia named after his father Antiochos, Seleucis named after himself, Apamea named after his wife Apama and Laodicea named after his mother Laodike. </p><p><br /></p><p>Laodicea was declared a &quot;free city&quot; by Julius Caesar, and the city took his name : <i>Julia Laodicea</i>. Much later, during the civil war on AD 193, Laodicea refused to support Pescennius Niger and supported his rival Septimius Severus. But Severus&#039; troops weren&#039;t there yet to help, and Laodicea was laid waste by Niger&#039;s men. Septimius Severus rebuilt it and, as a reward, made it a colony with the <i>jus italicum</i>. </p><p><br /></p><p>Three coins of Laodicea :</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1587386[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Trajan, Laodicea, AE 25 mm, 113-114 AD</p><p>Obv.: [AYTOKP. NEP.] TPAIANOC APICT. [KAIC. CEB. ΓEP. ΔAK. ΠAP.] , laureate bust right</p><p>Rev.: IOYΛIE<font size="6">ω</font>N T<font size="6">ω</font>N KAI ΛAO[ΔIKE<font size="6">ω</font>N BΞP] , turreted bust of Tyche right, in r. field monogram.</p><p>The rev. legend means : &quot;(coins of the citizens of) Julia, AKA Laodicea&quot;. The date, year 162, refers to the local caesarian era beginning in 49 BC when Julius Caesar liberated the city and declared it a free city.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1587389[/ATTACH]</p><p>Antoninus Pius, Laodicea, AE 24 mm, 140-141 AD</p><p>Obv.: Illegible legend mostly out of flan , laureate head of Antoninus Pius right</p><p>IOYΛIE<font size="6">ω</font>N T<font size="6">ω</font>N KAI ΛAOΔIKE<font size="6">ω</font>N, turreted bust of Tyche right ; to the right ΘE, to the left HΠP : year 188 = 140-141 AD. The crown of the Tyche is a model of the city walls, with the arched gate flanked by two towers.</p><p><br /></p><p>After the city received the colonial status with the Italian law, the citizens were Roman citizens, the official language was Latin and local coins had Latin legends :</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1587390[/ATTACH]</p><p>Elagabalus, Laodicea, AE 23 mm, 218-222</p><p>Obv.: [IMP.] C. M. AVR. ANTONINVS , laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus r.</p><p>COLONIA LAODIC M[ETROPO]LEOS / Δ Є , temple or shrine with two columns and domed roof, enclosing eagle facing, head l.</p><p>Actually <i>Metropoleos </i>is a Greek genitive, but it seems it was used in Latin as well. </p><p>Cf. RPC VI, 8168 (temporary) - Not exactly the same rev. legend.</p><p><br /></p><p>Laodicea is now the Syrian port-city of Latakia, there was also a nice beach resort before the civil war (not the one of 193, the one of 2011). Remains of the Roman city can be seen downtown.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1587392[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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