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<p>[QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 4002288, member: 99554"]Egypt, 290-298 AD</p><p><b>The Corrector</b></p><p>Throughout the third century, the power of Egypt declined: supplanted by Africa as Rome's breadbasket, it suffered as much from piracy in the Red Sea as from the agitation of the Blemmyes, a nomadic tribe from northern Nubia, who ruined its trade with the India . The province also suffers from the loss of value of Roman coins, in particular the silver tetradrachm, while the increase in prices leaves the rural populations in great difficulty . Neither the monetary reforms of the Emperor Diocletian, nor the stabilization of the domestic political situation, the premise of a resumption of economic activity, succeeded in reversing the phenomenon and relieving local populations of the burden of taxation. Also, between 290 and 292 AD, a revolt broke out in Upper Egypt. The insurgency spreads quickly since it reaches in particular the region of Fayoum, that of Thebaïde as well as the cities of Busiris and Coptos. This uprising is, if not triggered, at least encouraged by Domitius Domitianus who finally takes the lead. For this, he relies on <b>Aurelius Achilleus</b>, whose precise attributions are not very clearly known. However, we know that he has the title of <i><b>Corrector</b></i> and that he has a military command and a civil authority which gives him a role relatively comparable to that of the prefect of Egypt whom he fights . It also seems that it was <b>Achilleus</b>, who, in the service of Domitianus, raised the Egyptian populations , which could explain the confusion that is sometimes made between the two characters.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Aschils.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Imperial cartouche of the temple of Esneh, “Achilleus the great dominator”.</p><p>Revue Archeologique 1870</p><p><br /></p><p>In 296 AD, Domitius Domitianus took control of all of Egypt and usurps the title of Augustus. The emperor Diocletian intervenes personally and makes push back the rebels who must be locked up in Alexandria. It seems that Domitianus died in Alexandria at the end of the year 297 AD, <b>Achilleus</b> therefore finds himself alone at the head of the rebellion. At the same time, Diocletian encircles the city where the insurgents are entrenched and submits it to the seat. To do this, he notably destroyed the aqueducts supplying the city with water. Alexandria finally fell in the spring of 298 AD after almost eight months of siege. Furious at the revolt, Diocletian demanded that the city be sacked and severely repressed the population. If he has not committed suicide before, <b>Achilleus</b> is most certainly killed by order of the emperor in the meantime.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.ancient.eu/uploads/images/2276.jpg?v=1485680594" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Diocletian ( Archaeology museum of Istanbul )</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The coinage</b></p><p><b>Achilleus</b> and his master Domitius Domitianus were sometimes considered to be one and the same person , some believing for example that <b>Achilleus</b> was a nickname attributed to Domitius Domitianus after his usurpation. In fact if we found coins minted with the effigy of Domitius Domitianus, there is none of <b>Achilleus</b>. However, this can be explained by the short duration of its usurpation. The coins in the name of <b>Achilleus</b>, described by H. Goltzius in <i>Thesaurus eri antiquariae </i>(1579), and Sestini in <i>Lettere</i>, Series I, vol 4, have been recognized as fake by Eckhel. Around 1790, Christophorus Rasche described in his <i>Universae rei numeriae veterum et praecipue Graecorum ac Romanorum </i>a coin of the famous Corrector : ACHILLEVS IMPERATOR / FIDES MILIT. I have been able to find a specimen of this coin owned by a private collector. What do you think of it ? </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1053715[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1053716[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>In 1830, M.Hennin, the numismatist, declared in his <i>Manuel de numismatique ancienne : “</i>the pieces that have been published for Achilleus are false”. <i>J</i>.Y.Akerman also wrote in 1834 about the usurper :”No certain coins are known of Achilleus. Those given by Goltz are considered spurious”. Later, G.Dattari in <i>Appunti di numismatica alessandrina</i>, (1902), attempted to "rehabilitate" them, but without providing any references. I found a specimen that is actually for sale on MA SHOPS for 400 EU. I let you judge by yourself if it’s the real thing or just a forgery.</p><p><img src="https://img.ma-shops.fr/koci/pic/14113_img_0458_c.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>And if you feel like owning one, there is currently an example for sale by a German’s auction house. Starting bid at 2400 EUR. A bargain from an usurper, a <i>Corrector</i> who did never struck any coins, <b>or did he </b>?</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://d3lp9lrk02pi7n.cloudfront.net/media/65/lots/408/photos/02303-WWW.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://auctions.live-bidder.com/clients/hirsch/en/sale/showLot/1032/2303" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://auctions.live-bidder.com/clients/hirsch/en/sale/showLot/1032/2303" rel="nofollow">https://auctions.live-bidder.com/clients/hirsch/en/sale/showLot/1032/2303</a></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Please post your Achilleus coins (!) or give us your opinion about his coinage (?).</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 4002288, member: 99554"]Egypt, 290-298 AD [B]The Corrector[/B] Throughout the third century, the power of Egypt declined: supplanted by Africa as Rome's breadbasket, it suffered as much from piracy in the Red Sea as from the agitation of the Blemmyes, a nomadic tribe from northern Nubia, who ruined its trade with the India . The province also suffers from the loss of value of Roman coins, in particular the silver tetradrachm, while the increase in prices leaves the rural populations in great difficulty . Neither the monetary reforms of the Emperor Diocletian, nor the stabilization of the domestic political situation, the premise of a resumption of economic activity, succeeded in reversing the phenomenon and relieving local populations of the burden of taxation. Also, between 290 and 292 AD, a revolt broke out in Upper Egypt. The insurgency spreads quickly since it reaches in particular the region of Fayoum, that of Thebaïde as well as the cities of Busiris and Coptos. This uprising is, if not triggered, at least encouraged by Domitius Domitianus who finally takes the lead. For this, he relies on [B]Aurelius Achilleus[/B], whose precise attributions are not very clearly known. However, we know that he has the title of [I][B]Corrector[/B][/I] and that he has a military command and a civil authority which gives him a role relatively comparable to that of the prefect of Egypt whom he fights . It also seems that it was [B]Achilleus[/B], who, in the service of Domitianus, raised the Egyptian populations , which could explain the confusion that is sometimes made between the two characters. [IMG]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Aschils.jpg[/IMG] Imperial cartouche of the temple of Esneh, “Achilleus the great dominator”. Revue Archeologique 1870 In 296 AD, Domitius Domitianus took control of all of Egypt and usurps the title of Augustus. The emperor Diocletian intervenes personally and makes push back the rebels who must be locked up in Alexandria. It seems that Domitianus died in Alexandria at the end of the year 297 AD, [B]Achilleus[/B] therefore finds himself alone at the head of the rebellion. At the same time, Diocletian encircles the city where the insurgents are entrenched and submits it to the seat. To do this, he notably destroyed the aqueducts supplying the city with water. Alexandria finally fell in the spring of 298 AD after almost eight months of siege. Furious at the revolt, Diocletian demanded that the city be sacked and severely repressed the population. If he has not committed suicide before, [B]Achilleus[/B] is most certainly killed by order of the emperor in the meantime. [IMG]https://www.ancient.eu/uploads/images/2276.jpg?v=1485680594[/IMG] Diocletian ( Archaeology museum of Istanbul ) [B]The coinage Achilleus[/B] and his master Domitius Domitianus were sometimes considered to be one and the same person , some believing for example that [B]Achilleus[/B] was a nickname attributed to Domitius Domitianus after his usurpation. In fact if we found coins minted with the effigy of Domitius Domitianus, there is none of [B]Achilleus[/B]. However, this can be explained by the short duration of its usurpation. The coins in the name of [B]Achilleus[/B], described by H. Goltzius in [I]Thesaurus eri antiquariae [/I](1579), and Sestini in [I]Lettere[/I], Series I, vol 4, have been recognized as fake by Eckhel. Around 1790, Christophorus Rasche described in his [I]Universae rei numeriae veterum et praecipue Graecorum ac Romanorum [/I]a coin of the famous Corrector : ACHILLEVS IMPERATOR / FIDES MILIT. I have been able to find a specimen of this coin owned by a private collector. What do you think of it ? [ATTACH=full]1053715[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1053716[/ATTACH] In 1830, M.Hennin, the numismatist, declared in his [I]Manuel de numismatique ancienne : “[/I]the pieces that have been published for Achilleus are false”. [I]J[/I].Y.Akerman also wrote in 1834 about the usurper :”No certain coins are known of Achilleus. Those given by Goltz are considered spurious”. Later, G.Dattari in [I]Appunti di numismatica alessandrina[/I], (1902), attempted to "rehabilitate" them, but without providing any references. I found a specimen that is actually for sale on MA SHOPS for 400 EU. I let you judge by yourself if it’s the real thing or just a forgery. [IMG]https://img.ma-shops.fr/koci/pic/14113_img_0458_c.jpg[/IMG] And if you feel like owning one, there is currently an example for sale by a German’s auction house. Starting bid at 2400 EUR. A bargain from an usurper, a [I]Corrector[/I] who did never struck any coins, [B]or did he [/B]? [IMG]https://d3lp9lrk02pi7n.cloudfront.net/media/65/lots/408/photos/02303-WWW.jpg[/IMG] [URL]https://auctions.live-bidder.com/clients/hirsch/en/sale/showLot/1032/2303[/URL] [B]Please post your Achilleus coins (!) or give us your opinion about his coinage (?).[/B][/QUOTE]
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