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Domitia – Wife of Roman Emperor Domitian: 81-96 A.D.
Bronze Assarion 14mm (3.35 grams) of Cadi in Phrygia
Reference: RPC II 1361; SNG Copenhagen 252; BMC 23-4
ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑ ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ, Draped bust of Domitia to right.
KAΔOHNΩN, Facing cult statue of Artemis Ephesia, with supports.
You are bidding on the exact item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.
The Temple of Artemis (Greek: Ἀρτεμίσιον, or Artemision), also known less precisely as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to a goddess Greeks identified as Artemis. It was sited at Ephesus (the modern town of Selçuk in present-day Turkey), and was completely rebuilt three times before its eventual destruction or decay. Only foundations and sculptural fragments of the latest of the temples at the site remain.
 The first sanctuary (temenos) antedated the Ionic immigration by many years, and dates to the Bronze Age. Callimachus, in his Hymn to Artemis, attributed it to the Amazons. In the seventh century the old temple was destroyed by a flood. Its reconstruction began around 550 BC, under the Cretan architect Chersiphron and his son Metagenes, at the expense of Croesus of Lydia: the project took some 120 years to complete, only to be destroyed in an act of arson by the infamous Herostratus. It was again rebuilt, and became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Antipater of Sidon, who compiled the list of the Seven Wonders, describes the finished temple:
I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the colossus of the Sun, and the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, “Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand”.
The archaic temeton beneath the later Temples clearly housed some form of “Great Goddess” but nothing is known of her cult. The literary accounts that describe it as “Amazonian” refer to the later founder-myths of Greek emigres who developed the cult and temple of Artemis Ephesia. The wealth and splendour of temple and city were taken as evidence of Artemis Ephesia’s power, and were the basis for her local and international prestige: despite the successive traumas of Temple destruction, each rebuilding ” a gift and honour to the goddess ” brought further prosperity.
Artemis’ shrines, temples and festivals (Artemisia) could be found throughout the Greek world, but Ephesian Artemis was unique. The Ephesians considered her theirs, and resented any foreign claims to her protection. Once Persia ousted their Lydian overlord Croesus, the Ephesians played down his contribution to the Temple’s restoration. The Persians dealt fairly with Ephesus, but removed some religious artifacts from Artemis’ Temple to Sardis and brought Persian priests into her Ephesian cult; this was not forgiven, and when Alexander conquered the Persians in turn, his offer to finance the Temple’s second rebuilding was politely but firmly refused. Ephesian Artemis lent her city’s diplomacy a powerful religious edge.
Under Hellenic rule, and later, under Roman rule, the Ephesian Artemesia was increasingly promoted as a key element in the pan-Hellenic festival circuit. It was part of a definitively Greek political and cultural identity, essential to the economic life of the region, and an excellent opportunity for young, unmarried Greeks of both sexes to seek out marriage partners. Games, contests and theatrical performances were held in the goddess’ name, and Pliny describes the Ephesian Artemisia procession as a magnificent crowd-puller; one of Apelles’ best paintings showed the goddess’ image, carried through the streets and surrounded by maidens. In the Roman Imperial era, the emperor Commodus lent his name to the festival games, and might have sponsored them.
 Domitia Longina (c. AD 53 – c. AD 130) was an Empress of Rome and wife to the Roman Emperor Domitian. She was the youngest daughter of the general and consul Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo. Domitia divorced her first husband Lucius Aelius Lamia in order to marry Domitian in 71. The marriage produced only one son, whose early death is believed to have been the cause of temporary rift between Domitia and her husband in 83. She became Empress of Rome upon Domitian’s accession in 81, and remained so until his assassination in 96. She is believed to have died sometime between 126 and 130.
Family
Domitia Longina was born sometime between 50 and 55, as the youngest daughter of Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo and Cassia Longina. Through her mother (a great-great-great granddaughter of Augustus), Domitia Longina was a direct descendant of Augustus Caesar and one of the last remaining members of the Julian lineage. Her paternal aunt was Milonia Caesonia, Roman Empress to Caligula. Her elder sister, Domitia Corbula, married the senator Lucius Annius Vinicianus. Domitia’s father Corbulo had been one of Rome’s most respected Senators and generals, serving as consul under Caligula, and conducting military campaigns in Germania and Parthia under Claudius and Nero. Following the failed Pisonian conspiracy against Emperor Nero in 65 however, Corbulo was disgraced when his family was brought in connection to the conspirators. Corbulo himself was forced to commit suicide, while Annius Vicinianus and his brother Annius Pollio, were executed in the ensueing purges.
Little is known about the life of Domitia before her marriage to Domitian, but sometime before 70, Domitia was married to Lucius Aelius Plautius Lamia Aelianus, a man of senatorial rank.
Marriage to Domitian
Reign of Vespasian and Titus
Following Nero’s suicide on June 9, 68, the Roman Empire plunged into a year long civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors, which saw the successive rise and fall of the Emperors Galba, Otho and Vitellius. The crisis came to an end with the accession of Vespasian, who re-established peace in the Empire and founded the short-lived Flavian dynasty. In 71, Vespasian attempted to arrange a dynastic marriage between his youngest son Domitian, and the daughter of his eldest son Titus, Julia Flavia. By this time however, Domitian had already met and fallen in love with Domitia Longina, and managed to persuade Lamia to divorce her, so that Domitian could marry her himself. Despite its initial recklessness, the alliance was very prestigious for both families. The new marriage rehabilitated Corbulo’s family, while serving the broader Flavian propaganda of the time, which sought to diminish Vespasian’s political success under the less reputable emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Instead connections to Claudius and Britannicus were emphasised, and Nero’s victims, or those otherwise disadvantaged by him, rehabilitated.
In 73, Domitia and Domitian’s only attested son was born. It is not known what the boy’s name was, but he died in childhood sometime between 77 and 81. During this time, Domitian’s role in the Flavian government was largely ceremonial. While his elder brother Titus shared almost equal powers with his father, Domitian was left with honours but no responsibilities. This situation remained unchanged when Titus succeeded Vespasian as Emperor on June 23, 79, leading both ancient and modern authors to suggest a mutual animosity between the two brothers. In 80, Titus granted a suffect consulship to Domitia’s former husband Aelius Lamia, according to Gsell as a personal insult against Domitian. On another occasion, when Titus urged Lamia to marry again, Lamia asked whether “he too was looking for a wife”.
After barely two years in office, Titus unexpectedly died of brain fever on September 13, 81. His last words were reported to have been: “I have made but one mistake”. The contemporary historian Suetonius speculated on the possible involvement of Domitian in his brother’s death, attributing his final words to a popular rumour of the time, which held that Titus had carried on an affair with Domitia Longina. However even he dismisses the story as highly unlikely.
On September 14, the Roman Senate confirmed Domitian as Titus’ successor, granting tribunician power, the office of Pontifex Maximus, and the titles of Augustus, and Pater Patriae. Consequently, Domitia Longina became Empress of Rome.
Empress of Rome
Shortly following his accession as Emperor, Domitian bestowed the honorific title of Augusta upon Domitia, while their late son was deified. Both appeared on Domitian’s coinage during this time. Nevertheless, the marriage appears to have faced a significant crisis in 83. For reasons unknown, Domitian briefly exiled Domitia, and then soon recalled her, either out of love or amidst rumours he was carrying on a relationship with his niece Julia Flavia. According to Suetonius, Domitia was exiled because of an affair with a famous actor named Paris. When Domitian found out, he allegedly murdered Paris in the street, and promptly divorced his wife. Suetonius further adds that, once Domitia was exiled, Domitian took Julia as his mistress, who later died during a failed abortion.
Modern historians consider this highly implausible however, noting that many of these stories were propagated by hostile senatorial authors, who condemned Domitian as a tyrant after his death. Malicious rumours, such as those concerning Domitia’s alleged infidelity, were eagerly repeated, and used to highlight the hypocrisy of a ruler publicly preaching a return to Augustan morals, while privately indulging in excesses and presiding over a corrupt court. Domitian did exile his wife, but Jones argues that most likely he did so for her failure to produce an heir. Nevertheless, rumours regarding Domitia’s alleged misconduct with Paris circulated even in Domitian’s time, and he did not take insults directed at his marriage lightly. Not long after his accession, Aelius Lamia was put to death for the joking remarks made earlier during the reign of Titus. In 93, a son of Helvidius Priscus was executed for having composed a farce satirizing Domitian’s separation from his wife. Stories of Domitian’s affair with Julia were likely an invention of post-Domitianic writers however. She died a natural death, and was subsequently deified by Domitian.
By 84, Domitia had returned to the palace, where she lived for the remainder of Domitian’s reign without incident. Little is known of Domitia’s precise activities as Empress, or how much influence she wielded in Domitian’s government, but it seems her role was largely limited to ceremonial appearances. From Suetonius, we know that she at least accompanied the Emperor to the theatre, while the Jewish writer Josephus speaks of benefits he received from her. Despite the crisis of 83, their relationship appears to have been happy. Domitian never married another woman in his life.
Later years
On September 18, 96, Domitian was assassinated in a palace conspiracy organized by court officials. His body was carried away on a common bier, and unceremoniously cremated by his nurse Phyllis, who mingled the ashes with those of his niece Julia at the Flavian temple. The same day, he was succeeded by his friend and advisor, Marcus Cocceius Nerva. Ancient sources have implicated Domitia in the conspiracy against Domitian, either by direct involvement, or advance awareness of the assassination. The historian Cassius Dio, writing more than a century after the assassination, claimed that Domitia chanced upon a list of courtiers Domitian intended to put to death, and passed the information to his chamberlain Parthenius. The story is most likely apocryphal however, with Herodian attributing a similar tale to the assassination of Commodus. According to Jones, the evidence suggests that Domitia remained devoted to Domitian, even after his death. Twenty-five years after her husband’s assassination, and despite the fact that his memory had been damned by the Senate, she still referred to herself as “Domitia, wife of Domitian”.
Sometime between 126 and 140, a temple dedicated to Domitia was erected in Gabii. She died peacefully.
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