Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David Atherton, post: 2379453, member: 82616&quot;]No, it wasn&#039;t Domitia his wife, but rather his patron deity Minerva with whom he had an almost obsessive relationship with. The coinage can be our guide.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]487622[/ATTACH]</p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>Rome mint, 81 AD</p><p>RIC 58 (C), BMC 11, RSC 560</p><p>Obv: IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.</p><p>Rev: TR P COS VII DES VIII P P; Minerva adv r., with spear and shield (M1)</p><p>VF</p><p><br /></p><p>Domitian&#039;s devotion to Minerva can be detected quite early in his reign on the coinage. This reverse design struck in late 81 would later become one of the standard four Minerva types he would repeat over and over again on the denarius. The same &#039;advancing right&#039; type was also struck for Domitian Caesar under Titus.</p><p><br /></p><p>Early in life, a motherless Domitian probably found some comfort in the worship of Minerva. After becoming emperor he portrayed himself as the son of Minerva and consort of Jupiter, <i>dominus et deus</i>, if you will. No mortal wife could compete with that.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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