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<p>[QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 5366678, member: 99554"][ATTACH=full]1228394[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="color: #ff0000">January 3rd</span> 250 AD</b></p><p>Trajan Decius orders sacrifices to be performed by everyone in the Empire to <b>Jupiter</b> and to the well-being of the Emperor. Only Jews were exempted to do so. The sacrifices had to be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate and be confirmed by a certificate, called a <i>libellus</i>, signed and attested by the magistrate. Even if the original text of the edict has been lost, many examples of certificates have survived.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228395[/ATTACH]</p><p>A Roman <i>libellus</i>, found in Egypt and dated to 250 AD. It confirmed its owner had sacrificed to the gods.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Edict of Decius was intended to serve as an Empire-wide oath of loyalty to the new emperor, sanctified by the Roman religion. There is no evidence that Decius sought to specifically target Christianity or initiate persecution of its practitioners. An unknown number of Christians have been executed or died in prison for refusing to perform the sacrifices, including Pope Fabian. Others hide, while many fall away and perform the ceremonies. The numbers of people put to death for refusing to obtain a certificate is a mystery. Emperor Decius died in June 251, causing his edict to lapse; it had been in force for approximately eighteen months.</p><p>Talking about sacrifices to <b>Jupiter</b>, who is probably the most depicted god on Roman Imperial coinage, it is kind of weird that Decius did not issued any coins with the theme of the Jovian deity ! The only specimens I was able to find are Provincial example like this one minted in Caesarea Maritima and showing <b>Jupiter</b> seated and holding a thunderbolt and a sceptre on the reverse :</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228396[/ATTACH]</p><p>RPC 2062 (British Museum)</p><p><br /></p><p>About 60 years ago, P.Hill made an interesting research untitled "Aspects of Jupiter on Coins of the Rome mint". It demonstrated that the vast majority of Emperors used this theme on their coinage, at least at the Rome workshop.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228397[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228398[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228399[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228400[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>It would be fun and instructive if you can show us your coins of <b>Decius</b> or your specimen depicting the famous <b>Jupiter </b>!</p><p><br /></p><p>A few I didn't show for a while (or never?):</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Licinius II</b></p><p><b>Jupiter</b> holding victory and sceptre</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228391[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Constantius I</b></p><p><b>Jupiter </b>giving globe to the Emperor</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228392[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Licinius I</b></p><p><b>Jupiter </b>holding victory on globe & sceptre</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1228393[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 5366678, member: 99554"][ATTACH=full]1228394[/ATTACH] [B][COLOR=#ff0000]January 3rd[/COLOR] 250 AD[/B] Trajan Decius orders sacrifices to be performed by everyone in the Empire to [B]Jupiter[/B] and to the well-being of the Emperor. Only Jews were exempted to do so. The sacrifices had to be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate and be confirmed by a certificate, called a [I]libellus[/I], signed and attested by the magistrate. Even if the original text of the edict has been lost, many examples of certificates have survived. [ATTACH=full]1228395[/ATTACH] A Roman [I]libellus[/I], found in Egypt and dated to 250 AD. It confirmed its owner had sacrificed to the gods. The Edict of Decius was intended to serve as an Empire-wide oath of loyalty to the new emperor, sanctified by the Roman religion. There is no evidence that Decius sought to specifically target Christianity or initiate persecution of its practitioners. An unknown number of Christians have been executed or died in prison for refusing to perform the sacrifices, including Pope Fabian. Others hide, while many fall away and perform the ceremonies. The numbers of people put to death for refusing to obtain a certificate is a mystery. Emperor Decius died in June 251, causing his edict to lapse; it had been in force for approximately eighteen months. Talking about sacrifices to [B]Jupiter[/B], who is probably the most depicted god on Roman Imperial coinage, it is kind of weird that Decius did not issued any coins with the theme of the Jovian deity ! The only specimens I was able to find are Provincial example like this one minted in Caesarea Maritima and showing [B]Jupiter[/B] seated and holding a thunderbolt and a sceptre on the reverse : [ATTACH=full]1228396[/ATTACH] RPC 2062 (British Museum) About 60 years ago, P.Hill made an interesting research untitled "Aspects of Jupiter on Coins of the Rome mint". It demonstrated that the vast majority of Emperors used this theme on their coinage, at least at the Rome workshop. [ATTACH=full]1228397[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1228398[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1228399[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1228400[/ATTACH] It would be fun and instructive if you can show us your coins of [B]Decius[/B] or your specimen depicting the famous [B]Jupiter [/B]! A few I didn't show for a while (or never?): [B]Licinius II Jupiter[/B] holding victory and sceptre [ATTACH=full]1228391[/ATTACH] [B]Constantius I Jupiter [/B]giving globe to the Emperor [ATTACH=full]1228392[/ATTACH] [B]Licinius I Jupiter [/B]holding victory on globe & sceptre [ATTACH=full]1228393[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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