JULIA MAMAEA Severus Alexander Wife Ancient Silver ROMAN Coin VESTA Rare i52333

Item: i52333

Authentic Ancient

Coin of:

Julia Mamaea
 – Roman Empress wife of
Emperor Severus Alexander 222-235 A.D. –

Silver Denarius 20mm (2.68 grams) Rome mint: 227 A.D.
Reference: RIC 362 (Severus Alexander), BMC 440 (Severus Alexander), S 8218, C
85
IVLIAMAMAEAAVG – Diademed, draped bust right.
VESTA – Vesta standing left, holding patera and scepter.

You are bidding on the exact item pictured,

Authenticity.

A patera was a broad, shallow dish used for drinking, primarily in a
ritual

context such as a
libation
.
These paterae were often used in Rome.Vesta was

the

virgin

goddess of the

hearth
, home,

and family in

Roman religion

. Vesta’s presence was symbolized by the

sacred fire

that burned at her hearth and temples.

Vesta’s (in some versions she is called Vestia) fire was guarded at her

Temples by her priestesses

, the

Vestales

. Every March 1 the fire was renewed. It burned until

391, when the Emperor

Theodosius I

forbade public

pagan

worship. One of the Vestales mentioned in mythology was

Rhea

Silvia
, who with the God

Mars

conceived

Romulus and Remus

(see

founding of Rome

).

The Vestales were one of the few full-time

clergy

positions in

Roman religion

. They were drawn from the

patrician

class and had to observe absolute

chastity

for 30 years. It was from this that the Vestales were named the Vestal virgins.

They could not show excessive care of their person, and they were not allowed to

let the fire go out. The Vestal Virgins lived together in a house near the Forum

(Atrium Vestae), supervised by the

Pontifex Maximus

. On becoming a priestess, a Vestal Virgin was legally

emancipated from her father’s authority and swore a vow of chastity for 30

years. This vow was so sacred that if it were broken, the Vestal was buried

alive in the Campus Sceleris (‘Field of Wickedness’). It is likely that

this is what happened to

Rhea

Silvia
. They were also very independent and had many privileges that normal

women did not have. They could move around the city but had to be in a carriage.

The Vestales had a strict relationship with the

rex sacrorum

and

flamen dialis

as is shown in the verses of Ovid about their taking the

februae (lanas: woolen threads) from the king and the flamen. Their

relationship with the king is also apparent in the ritual phrase: “Vigilasne

rex, vigila!” by which they apostrophated him. The sacrality of their functions

is well compounded by Cicero’s opinion that without them Rome could not exist as

it would not be able to keep contact with gods.

A peculiar duty of the vestals was the preparation and conservation of the

sacred salamoia

muries

used for the savouring of the mola or

mola salsa
,

dough to be spread on sacrificial victims, a procedure known as

immolation
.

This dough too was prepared by them on fixed days. Theirs also the task of

preparing the

suffimen

for the

Parilia
.

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.