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Gordian III –
Roman Emperor
: 238-244 A.D. –
Silver Antoninianus 22mm (4.85 grams) Rome mint June – December 238 A.D.
Reference: RIC 4, C 302
IMPCAESMANTGORDIANVSAVG – Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
PROVIDENTIAAVG – Providentia standing left, holding globe and scepter.
Royal/Imperial symbols of power
Ruling dynasties often exploit pomp and ceremony with the use of
regalia
:
crowns
,
robes,
orb (globe) and sceptres
, some of which are
reflections of formerly practical objects. The use of language mechanisms also
support this differentiation with subjects talking of “the crown” and/or of “the
throne
” rather than referring directly to
personal names and items.
You are bidding on the exact
item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime
Guarantee of Authenticity.
In
Roman mythology
, Providentia was the
goddess
of forethought. Providentia.
(Providence).—-With all their vices, follies, and gross superstitions (indeed,
in spite of them), the Romans still appear to have cherished a belief in the
perpetual and direct interposition of the gods with respect to human
affairs.—-Among the various monuments which attest this religious feeling, or
at leas this profession of religion, on the part of both princes and people,
none are more conspicuous than those to be found on their imperial coins,
for it is to be observed that previous to the substitution of the monarchical
for the republican form of government, that allegorical divinity whose name is
derived from providere (to foresee) is not seen either on metal or on
marble.In
ancient Roman religion
, Providentia is a
divine personification of the ability to foresee and make provision. She was
among the embodiments of
virtues
that were part of the
Imperial cult of ancient Rome
.Providentia thus
figures in art
, cult, and
literature
, but has little or no
mythology
as such.
Providentia was an important moral and philosophical abstraction in
Roman discourse. Cicero
says it is one of the three main
components of prudentia, “the knowledge of things that are good or bad or
neither,” along with memoria, “memory,” and intellegentia,
“understanding.” The Latin word is the origin of the Christian concept of
divine providence
.
Imperial cult
Upon the death of
Augustus
, the emperor
Tiberius
established an
altar
to Providentia Augusta in recognition of
“the godhead manifested in his father’s provisions for the
Roman state
.” The cult title
Augusta
was attached also to such goddesses as
Pax
,
Justitia
, and
Concordia
during the
Imperial era
. Traditional epithets invoked a
deity within a specific functional sphere by declaring their power. The title
Augusta thus fixed the divinity’s force within the sphere of the emperor as
Augustus.
In 28 AD, after Tiberius arrested and executed
Sejanus
for conspiracy, the Cult of Virtues
played a role in the propaganda that presented the restoration of Imperial order
as a return to constitutional government. Sacrifices were offered to Providentia
along with Salus (“Security”),
Libertas
(“Liberty”), and the
Genius
. Providentia at this time also received
a permanent full-time priest (sacerdos)
devoted to her. In the wake of the
Pisonian conspiracy
against
Nero, religious observances in 59 AD to repair the state included
sacrifices by the
Arval Brethren
to various deities, among them
Providentia.
Providentia appeared on
Roman coins
issued under
Vespasian
,
Trajan
,
Hadrian
,
Antoninus Pius
,
Septimius Severus
,
Commodus
and
Diocletian
. A coin issued by
Titus
depicted his deified father Vespasian
handing a globe to his son as his successor, with the legend Providentia
Augusta. Coins issued by
Nerva
depicted the Genius of the
Senate
handing the globe to the new emperor,
with the legend Providentia Senatus, “the Providence of the Senate.”
Providentia in
numismatics
The figure of Providentia from a sculpture group in Vienna, as
depicted on an Austrian 100-euro gold coin
Providentia has been the main motif for many collector coins and medals, the
most recent one is the famous
100 euro Sculpture Gold coin
issued on November
13, 2002. The reverse features the Providentia Fountain (“Provendentia Brunnen”)
in central Vienna, work of one of the greatest baroque sculptor
Georg Rafael Donner
. In the centre of the coin,
the allegorical figure of Providentia with a medallion of the Roman god,
Janus
, who had two faces, is displayed.
Surrounding the fountain there are other symbolic figures representing tributary
rivers of the Danube
. Providentia is enthroned high above the
figure of an old man representing the
Enns River
.
Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius (January
20, 225
–
February
11
, 244
),
known in
English
as Gordian III,
 was
Roman
Emperor
from 238 to 244. Gordian was the son of
Antonia Gordiana
and his father was an unnamed Roman Senator who died before
238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor
Gordian I
and younger sister of Emperor
Gordian II
.
Very little is known on his early life before becoming Roman Emperor. Gordian
had assumed the name of his maternal grandfather in 238.
Following the murder of emperor
Alexander Severus
in Moguntiacum (modern
Mainz
), the
capital of the
Roman province
Germania Inferior
,
Maximinus Thrax
was acclaimed emperor, despite strong opposition of the
Roman senate
and the majority of the population. In response to what was
considered in Rome as a rebellion, Gordian’s grandfather and uncle, Gordian I
and II, were proclaimed joint emperors in the
Africa Province
. Their revolt was suppressed within a month by Cappellianus,
governor of Numidia
and a loyal supporter of Maximinus Thrax. The elder Gordians died,
but public opinion cherished their memory as peace loving and literate men,
victims of Maximinus’ oppression.
Meanwhile, Maximinus was on the verge of marching on Rome and
the Senate elected
Pupienus
and Balbinus
as joint emperors. These senators were not popular men and the population of
Rome was still shocked by the elder Gordian’s fate, so that the Senate decided
to take the teenager Gordian, rename him Marcus Antonius Gordianus as his
grandfather, and raise him to the rank of
Caesar
and imperial heir.
Pupienus
and Balbinus
defeated Maximinus, mainly due to the defection of several
legions
,
namely the
Parthica II
who assassinated Maximinus. But their joint reign was
doomed from the start with popular riots, military discontent and even an
enormous fire that consumed Rome in June 238. On
July 29
,
Pupienus and Balbinus were killed by the
Praetorian guard
and Gordian proclaimed sole emperor.
Rule
Due to Gordian’s age, the imperial government was surrendered
to the aristocratic families, who controlled the affairs of Rome through the
senate. In 240,
Sabinianus
revolted in the African province, but the situation was dealt quickly. In 241,
Gordian was married to Furia Sabinia
Tranquillina
, daughter of the newly appointed praetorian prefect,
Timesitheus
. As chief of the Praetorian guard and father in law of the
emperor, Timesitheus quickly became the de facto ruler of the Roman
empire.
In the 3rd century, the Roman frontiers weakened against the
Germanic tribes across the
Rhine
and
Danube
, and the
Sassanid
kingdom across the
Euphrates
increased its own attacks. When the Persians under
Shapur I
invaded Mesopotamia
, the young emperor opened the doors of the
Temple of Janus
for the last time in Roman history, and sent a huge army to
the East. The Sassanids were driven back over the Euphrates and defeated in the
Battle of Resaena
(243). The campaign was a success and Gordian, who had
joined the army, was planning an invasion of the enemy’s territory, when his
father-in-law died in unclear circumstances. Without Timesitheus, the campaign,
and the emperor’s security, were at risk.
Marcus Julius Philippus, also known as
Philip the Arab
, stepped in at this moment as the new Praetorian Prefect and
the campaign proceeded. In the beginning of 244, the Persians counter-attacked.
Persian sources claim that a battle was fought (Battle
of Misiche) near modern
Fallujah
(Iraq)
and resulted in a major Roman defeat and the death of Gordian III[1].
Roman sources do not mention this battle and suggest that Gordian died far away,
upstream of the Euphrates. Although ancient sources often described Philip, who
succeeded Gordian as emperor, as having murdered Gordian at Zaitha (Qalat es
Salihiyah), the cause of Gordian’s death is unknown.
Gordian’s youth and good nature, along with the deaths of his
grandfather and uncle and his own tragic fate at the hands of another usurper,
granted him the everlasting esteem of the Romans. Despite the opposition of the
new emperor, Gordian was deified by the Senate after his death, in order to
appease the population and avoid riots.
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