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Julia Mamaea
– Roman Empress wife of
Emperor Severus Alexander 222-235 A.D. –
Silver Denarius 20mm (2.39 grams) Rome mint: 222-235 A.D.
Reference: RIC 343 (Severus Alexander), S 8212
IVLIAMAMAEAAVG – Draped, bust right.
IVNOCONSERVATRIX – Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock to
left.
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Authenticity.
Juno
was an
ancient Roman goddess
, the protector and special counselor of the state. She
is a daughter of
Saturn
and sister (but also the wife) of the chief god
Jupiter
and the mother of
Mars
, Minerva
and
Vulcan
. Her Greek equivalent is
Hera.
As the
patron goddess
of Rome
and the
Roman empire
she was called Regina (“queen”) and, together with Jupiter and
Minerva
, was
worshipped as a triad on the Capitol (Juno Capitolina) in Rome.
As the great Juno
Moneta
(which
the ancients interpreted as “the one who warns”; this traditional etymology is
badly formed, but has not been replaced) she guarded over the finances of the
empire and had a temple on the
Arx
(one of two Capitoline hills), which was the
Mint
.
She was also worshipped in many other cities, where temples were built in her
honor.
Every year, on the first of March, women held a festival in honor of Juno
called the Matronalia
. On this day, lambs and other cattle were sacrificed in her
honor. Another festival called the
Nonae Caprotinae
(“The Nones of the Wild Fig”) was held on July 7. Juno is
the patroness of marriage, and many people believe that the most favorable time
to marry is June, the month named after the goddess.
Lucina
was an epithet for Juno as “she who brings children into light.”
Juno’s own warlike aspect among the Romans is apparent in her attire. She
often appeared armed and wearing a goatskin cloak, which was the garment
favoured by Roman soldiers on campaign. This warlike aspect was assimilated from
the Greek goddess Athena
, whose goatskin was called the ‘aegis’.
Julia
Avita Mamaea (14 or 29 August after 180–235) was the second daughter of
Julia
Maesa
, a powerful
 Roman woman of Syrian
Arab
origin and Syrian noble
Julius Avitus
. She was a niece of empress
Julia
Domna
and
emperor
Septimius Severus
and sister of
Julia Soaemias
. She was born and raised in
Emesa
(modern
Homs
, Syria
).
Julia’s first husband was a former consul (whose name is unknown) who died.
Julia married as her second husband Syrian
Promagistrate
Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus
. Julia bore Marcianus two children, a
daughter called Theoclia (little is known of her) and a son, Marcus Julius
Gessius Bassianus Alexianus, later emperor
Alexander Severus
. Unlike her sister, Julia Mamaea was reported to be a
virtuous woman, never involved in scandals.
As a member of the Imperial Roman family, she watched closely the death of
her cousin Caracalla
and the ascent to power of her nephew
Elagabalus
,
the oldest grandson of Julia Maesa and her choice to the throne. Eventually
Elagabalus and his mother Julia Soaemias proved incompetent rulers and favour
fell on Alexander, Julia’s son. He became emperor in 222, following Elagabalus’
murder by the
Praetorian Guard
. Julia and her mother became regents in the name of
Alexander, then 14 years old. Upon adulthood, Alexander confirmed his esteem for
his mother and named her consors imperii (imperial consort). It was in
this condition that she accompanied her son in his campaigns: a custom started
with Julia Domna
. Thus she travelled to the East, for the campaign against
Parthia
and
to the Germania provinces. Julia Mamaea was with Alexander in Moguntiacum
(modern Mainz
),
capital of
Germania Superior
, when he was assassinated by his troops. She suffered the
same fate.
In the
material culture
of
classical antiquity
, a phiale or
patera (Latin pronunciation: [ˈpatera])
is a shallow ceramic or metal
libation
bowl. It often has a bulbous
indentation (omphalos,
“bellybutton”) in the center underside to facilitate holding it, in which case
it is sometimes called a mesomphalic phiale. It typically has no handles,
and no feet. (A drinking cup with handles is a
kylix
. A circular platter with a pair of
C-handles is not a patera, but a few paterae have a single long straight
handle.) Although the two terms may be used interchangeably, particularly in the
context of
Etruscan culture
, phiale is more common
in reference to Greek forms, and patera in a Roman setting.
-
Silver phiale (620-590 BC, from
Bayindir
village,
Elmali
, present-day Turkey
-
Octopus and dolphin motifs on a ceramic phiale (510–500 BC, from
Eretria
,
Euboea
)
-
Golden phiale (4th–3rd century BC)
-
Silver patera from
Hispania
(Roman
Spain), 2nd–1st century BC)
Use
A youth pours a libation to the deceased within a
naiskos
, a scene that may also
represent
Ganymede
serving
Zeus
( Apulian
red-figure
krater
, 340–320 BC)
Libation was a central and vital aspect of
ancient Greek religion
, and one of the simplest
and most common forms of religious practice. It is one of the basic religious
acts that define piety in ancient Greece, dating back to the
Bronze Age
and even
prehistoric Greece
. Libations were a part of
daily life, and the pious might perform them every day in the morning and
evening, as well as to begin meals. A libation most often consisted of mixed
wine and water, but could also be unmixed wine, honey, oil, water, or milk.
The form of libation called spondē is typically the ritualized pouring
of wine from a jug or bowl held in the hand. The most common ritual was to pour
the liquid from an
oinochoē
(wine jug) into a phiale. Libation
generally accompanied prayer. The Greeks stood when they prayed, either with
their arms uplifted, or in the act of libation with the right arm extended to
hold the phiale. After the wine offering was poured from the phiale, the
remainder of the contents was drunk by the celebrant.
In Roman art
, the libation is shown performed at
an
altar, mensa (sacrificial meal table)
,
or
tripod
. It was the simplest form of sacrifice,
and could be a sufficient offering by itself. The introductory rite
(praefatio) to an animal sacrifice included an incense and wine libation
onto a burning altar. Both
emperors
and divinities are frequently
depicted, especially on coins, pouring libations from a patera. Scenes of
libation and the patera itself commonly signify the quality of
pietas
, religious duty or reverence.
-
Libation at a
symposium
(Attic
red-figure cup, ca. 480 BC)
-
Apollo pouring a libation (Attic
white-ground
kylix
, ca. 460 BC)
-
Etruscan priest with phiale (2nd century BC)
-
Roman priest,
capite velato
(2nd–3rd century
AD)
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