Dear friends of ancient coins! The Chlamys is probably known to all. Especially images of Apollo, Dionysos or Hermes often show it either hanging over the left shoulder or on the left forearm. I have added a picture. Now I have a coin from Nicopolis, AMNG I/1 1830, wshowing Zeus with a strange object hanging over his shoulder that bears little resemblance to a Chlamys. It looks more like a body bandage or a wide belt. Does anyone know what it is? I don't think that in antiquity arbitrariness went so far - as it does in modern times - that the die cutter could do whatever he wanted. I would be delighted to receive any answer! Thanks in advance Jochen
It's a chlamys. It's just not well rendered on this coin. Jupiter is usually depicted with a chlamys on Roman coins, so it doesn't surprise me to see it on a provincial, too. Constantine I ("the Great") A.D. 307-337 AE Nummus Thessalonica mint, A.D. 312-313 RIC 61b Obv: IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN - Jupiter leaning on scepter and holding Victory; eagle at feet •TS•B• in exergue 23 mm, 2.8 g. But the figure appears to be holding a patera, so I wonder if it is intended to be a genius rather than Zeus Severus II Caesar, A.D. 305-306 Augustus, A.D. 306-307 Bronze 1/4 Nummus Siscia mint, A.D. 305-306 Obv: FL VAL SEVERVS NOB C Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI - Genius, modius on head, naked but for chlamys hanging from shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae SIS in exergue RIC 170a 19mm, 2.3g.
Hermes with a chlamys draped over his forearm. Faustina II, AD 147-175/6. Roman provincial Æ 26.3 mm, 9.32 g, 1 h. Mysia, Cyzicus (group 2), AD 169-175. Obv: ΦΑVϹΤEΙΝΑ ϹEΒΑϹΤΗ; draped bust of Faustina II, r. Rev: ΚVΖΙΚΗΝΩΝ ΝЄOΚΟΡ; nude Hermes standing facing, head left, holding purse, caduceus and chlamys. Refs: RPC IV.2 699 (temp); SNG Cop 115; Mionnet Suppl. 5, p. 225, 270.
SEVERUS II Quarter Follis OBVERSE: SEVERVS NOB C, laureate head right REVERSE: GGENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, with chlamys over l. shoulder, patera & cornucopiae; SIS in ex. Struck at Siscia 305-6 AD 2.3g, 20mm RIC VI Siscia 171a
Carinus, Antoninianus - Rome mint, 2nd officina, 5th emission, Nov 284 AD IMP CARINVS PF AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Carinus right IOVI VI - CTORI, Jupiter standing left, holding victory and sceptre, chlamys on left shoulder. Eagle at feet. KAB at exergue 4,25 gr, 22 mm Ref : RCV #12348, Cohen #45, RIC vol V #257 Q
Here is an interesting quote on the subject - "The chlamys was also the typical Greek military attire from the 5th to the 3rd century BC. As worn by soldiers, it could also be wrapped around the arm and used as a light shield in combat." So this could be what is being depicted.. or the artist just preferred the image of the male nude, so they show the short cloak being draped away from the body?
Leo IV and Constantine VI are both wearing their chlamyses on the obverse of this coin: The dead guys on the reverse, Leo III and Constantine V, are both wearing the loros. Obviously heroic nudity with clothing draped over the arm wasn't popular in Byzantine times.
