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Julia Domna
–
Roman Empress
Wife of
Emperor
Septimius Severus
193-211 A.D. –
Bronze 24mm (5.64 grams) of
Stobi
in
Macedonia
Reference: Varbanov 3874; Josif. 244 (V91, R93); KC 527
IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right.
MVNI STOB, Nike (Victory) advancing right holding trophy.
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Authenticity.
In
ancient Roman religion
, Victoria or Victory
was the
personified
goddess of victory. She is the
Roman equivalent
of the
Greek goddess
Nike
, and was associated with
Bellona
. She was adapted from the
Sabine
Vacuna and had a
temple
on the
Palatine Hill
. The goddess
Vica Pota
was also sometimes identified with
Victoria.
Unlike the Greek
Nike
, the goddess Victoria (Latin
for “victory”) was a major part of Roman society. Multiple temples were erected
in her honor. When her statue was removed in 382 CE by Emperor
Gratianus
there was much anger in Rome. She was
normally worshiped by
triumphant
generals returning from war.
Also unlike the Greek Nike, who was known for success in athletic games such
as
chariot races
, Victoria was a symbol of victory
over death and determined who would be successful during war.
Victoria appears widely on Roman coins, jewelry, architecture, and other
arts. She is often seen with or in a
chariot
, as in the late 18th-century sculpture
representing Victory in a
quadriga
on the
Brandenburg Gate
in
Berlin
, Germany; “Il Vittoriano”
in Rome has two..
Winged figures, very often in pairs, representing victory and referred to as
“victories”, were common in Roman official iconography, typically hovering high
in a composition, and often filling spaces in
spandrels
or other gaps in architecture. These
represent the spirit of victory rather than the goddess herself. They continued
to appear after Christianization of the Empire, and slowly mutated into
Christian
angels
(mod.
StobiGradsko
) was an ancient town of
Paionia
, later conquered by
Macedon
, and later still incorporated into the
Roman
province of
Macedonia Salutaris
(now in the
Republic of Macedonia
). It is located on the main road that leads from the
Danube
to the
Aegean Sea
and is considered by many to be the most famous archaeological site in the
Republic of Macedonia. Stobi was built where the Erigón river (mod.
River Crna
) joins the Axiós river (mod.
Vardar
), making
it important strategically as a center for both trade and warfare.
//
The
pre-Roman period
Stobi developed from a
Paeonian
settlement established in the Archaic period. Located on the
northern side of a terrace, the early town covered an area of about 25,000
square meters. Its proximity to the junction of the
Erigón
and Axiós
rivers and its position in the fertile central Vardar valley allowed
it to quickly develop a flourishing economy and establish trade. Nearby
Mount Klepa
was a lucrative source of marble. The initial Paeonian
population was later supplemented by other immigrant groups.
In earlier times,
Bylazora
was the Paeonian capital, but later the Paeonians moved their capital to Stobi.
Stobi along with the rest of Paeonia was conquered by the kingdom of
Macedon
.
The
Roman period
In 168 BC
,
the
Romans
defeated
Perseus
and Macedonia was divided into four nominally independent republics.
In 148 BC
the
four areas of Macedonia were brought together in a unified Roman province. The
town was first mentioned in
197 BC
by
Livius
. In the
reign of Augustus
(31 BC-14 AD) the town grew in size and population. The town grew
in 69 AD once it became a
municipium
and coins, with Municipium Stobensium printed on them, were distributed.
The citizens of Stobi enjoyed
Ius
Italicum
and were citizens of Rome. Most belonged to the tribes
Aemila
and
Tromentina
. During Roman times Stobi was the capital of the Roman province
Macedonia Salutaris
. Emperor
Theodosius I
stayed in Stobi in 388. Late in the 5th century the town
underwent a terrible turn of events. In 479 AD, it was robbed by
Theodoric
, an
Ostrogothic
king. The citizens reconstructed the town, but in 518 AD was
struck by a powerful earthquake. Avaro-Slavic invasions in the 6th century
ruined the city’s economy and infrastructure.
 Julia
Domna (unknown date–217)
was a member of the
Severan dynasty
of the
Roman
Empire
. Empress and wife of
Roman
Emperor
Lucius
Septimius Severus
and mother of Emperors
Geta
and Caracalla
, Julia was among the most important women ever to exercise power
behind the throne in the Roman Empire.
//
Family
background
Julia was of Syrian origin from the ancient city of
Emesa. Her
ancestors were Kings Priest of the famous temple of
Baal. The family
lost its kingdom to Rome but continued domination of the temple of Baal. The
family had an enormous wealth and was promoted to Roman senatorial aristocracy.
She was the youngest daughter of high-priest Gaius
Julius Bassianus
and her eldest sister was
Julia
Maesa
.
Reign
In the late 180s, Julia married future Emperor
Septimius Severus
who himself was in part of
Punic
background. The marriage proved to be a happy one and Severus
cherished his wife and her political opinions, since she was very well read and
keen on philosophy. Together, they had two sons, Lucius Septimius Bassianus (Caracalla)
in 186 and
Publius Septimius Geta
in 189.
Civil
War
When Severus became emperor in 193 he had a civil war waiting
for him, against rivals such as
Pescennius Niger
and
Clodius Albinus
. Julia accompanied him in his campaigns in the East, an
uncommon event in a time when women were expected to wait in Rome for their
husbands. Nevertheless, she remained with the emperor and among the several
proofs of affection and favour are the minting of coins with her portrait and
the title mater castrorum (mother of the camp).
Julia now had complete power and ruled behind the Roman
Empire. Many early Romans disliked the fact of her ruling over the throne when
Septimius Severus was at war.
Controversy
and transition of power
As empress, Julia was often involved in intrigues and had
plenty of political enemies who accused her of treason and adultery. None of
these accusations were proven, Severus continued to favour his wife and insisted
on her company in the campaign against the
Britons
that started in 208. When Severus died, in 211 in
York, Julia became
the mediator between their two sons.
Caracalla
and
Geta
who were to rule as joint emperors, according to their father’s wishes
expressed on his will. But the two young men were never fond of each other and
quarrelled frequently. Geta was murdered by Caracalla’s soldiers in the same
year.
Caracalla was now sole emperor, but his relations with his
mother were difficult, as attested by several sources, probably due to his
involvement in Geta’s murder. Nevertheless, Julia accompanied Caracalla in his
campaign against the
Parthian empire
in 217. During this trip, Caracalla was assassinated and
succeeded (briefly) by
Macrinus
.
On hearing about the rebellion, Julia chose to commit suicide. Her body was
brought to Rome and placed in the Sepulcrum C. et L. Caesaris (perhaps a
separate chamber in the
Mausoleum of Augustus
). Later, however, both her bones and those of Geta
were transferred by her sister
Julia
Maesa
to the
Mausoleum of Hadrian
.[2]
She was later deified.
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