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Otacilia Severa – Roman Empress: 244-249 A.D wife of Emperor
Philip I –
Silver Antoninianus 22mm (4.76 grams) Struck at the mint
of Rome 247 A.D.
Reference: RIC 125c (Philip I), C 4
MOTACILSEVERAAVG – Diademed, draped bust right on crescent.
CONCORDIAAVGG – Concordia seated left, holding patera and two cornucopiae.
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item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime
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The cornucopia (from Latin cornu copiae) or horn of plenty
is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container
overflowing with produce, flowers, nuts, other edibles, or wealth in some form.
Originating in
classical antiquity
, it has continued as a
symbol in
Western art
, and it is particularly associated
with the
Thanksgiving
holiday in
North America
.
Allegorical
depiction of the Roman
goddess
Abundantia
with a cornucopia, by
Rubens
(ca. 1630)
In Mythology
Mythology
offers multiple
explanations of the origin
of the cornucopia.
One of the best-known involves the birth and nurturance of the infant
Zeus, who had to be hidden from his devouring father
Cronus
. In a cave on
Mount Ida
on the island of
Crete
, baby Zeus was cared for and protected by
a number of divine attendants, including the goat
Amalthea
(“Nourishing Goddess”), who fed him
with her milk. The suckling future king of the gods had unusual abilities and
strength, and in playing with his nursemaid accidentally broke off one of her
horns
, which then had the divine power to
provide unending nourishment, as the foster mother had to the god.
In another myth, the cornucopia was created when
Heracles
(Roman
Hercules
) wrestled with the river god
Achelous
and wrenched off one of his horns;
river gods were sometimes depicted as horned. This version is represented in the
Achelous and Hercules
mural painting
by the
American Regionalist
artist
Thomas Hart Benton
.
The cornucopia became the attribute of several
Greek
and
Roman deities
, particularly those associated
with the harvest, prosperity, or spiritual abundance, such as personifications
of Earth (Gaia
or
Terra
); the child
Plutus
, god of riches and son of the grain
goddess Demeter
; the
nymph
Maia
; and
Fortuna
, the goddess of luck, who had the power
to grant prosperity. In
Roman Imperial cult
, abstract Roman deities who
fostered peace (pax
Romana) and prosperity were also depicted with a cornucopia,
including Abundantia
, “Abundance” personified, and
Annona
, goddess of the
grain supply to the city of Rome
.
Pluto
, the classical ruler of the underworld in
the
mystery religions
, was a giver of agricultural,
mineral and spiritual wealth, and in art often holds a cornucopia to distinguish
him from the gloomier Hades
, who holds a
drinking horn
instead.
Modern depictions
In modern depictions, the cornucopia is typically a hollow, horn-shaped
wicker basket filled with various kinds of festive
fruit
and
vegetables
. In North America, the cornucopia
has come to be associated with
Thanksgiving
and the harvest. Cornucopia is
also the name of the annual November Wine and Food celebration in
Whistler
, British Columbia, Canada. Two
cornucopias are seen in the
flag
and
state seal
of
Idaho
. The Great
Seal
of
North Carolina
depicts Liberty standing and
Plenty holding a cornucopia. The coat of arms of
Colombia
,
Panama
,
Peru and
Venezuela
, and the Coat of Arms of the State of
Victoria, Australia
, also feature the
cornucopia, symbolising prosperity.
The horn of plenty is used on body art and at Halloween, as it is a symbol of
fertility, fortune and abundance.
-
Base of a statue of
Louis XV of France
In
Roman religion
, Concord (Latin:
Concordia, “harmony”) was the
goddess of agreement, understanding, and marital harmony. Her Greek version is
Harmonia
, and the Harmonians and some
Discordians
equate her with
Aneris
. Her opposite is Discordia (or the Greek
Eris
).The
cult of Concordia
Augusta
(“Majestic Harmony”) was of special importance to the
imperial household
. Dedicatory inscriptions to her, on behalf of emperors
and members of the imperial family, were common. The oldest
Temple of Concord
, built in
367 BC
by
Marcus Furius Camillus
, stood on the
Roman
Forum
. Other temples and shrines in Rome dedicated to Concordia were largely
geographically related to the main temple.
Marcia Otacilia Severa or Otacilia Severa was the Empress of
Rome and wife of
Emperor
Marcus Julius Philippus or
Philip the Arab
who reigned over the
Roman
Empire
from 244 to 249.
Severa was a member of the ancient
gens
Otacilius
who were people of consular and senatorial rank. Severa’s father was Otacilius
Severus or Severianus, who served as Roman Governor of
Macedonia
and Moesia
, while her mother was a member of gens
Marcius
or
was related to the gens. According to sources she had a brother called
Severianus, who served as Roman Governor of Lower
Moesia
between
246-247.
Little is known on her life before marrying Philip. In 234, Severa married
Philip who served in the
Praetorian Guard
under Emperor
Alexander Severus
. Severa had two children with Philip: a son named Marcus
Julius Philippus Severus or
Philippus II
(born in 238) and – according to numismatic evidence – a
daughter called Julia Severa or Severina, who is never mentioned by the ancient
Roman sources.
In February 244,
Gordian
III
was killed in Mesopotamia. There is a possibility that Severa was
involved in a conspiracy to murder Gordian. Philip became the new emperor who
gave his young predecessor a proper funeral and his ashes were returned to
Rome for burial.
Philip gave Severa the honorific title of Augusta. Their son was made
heir of the purple. Sometimes Severa and Philip are considered as the first
Christian imperial couple, because during their reign the persecutions of
Christians had ceased and the couple had become tolerant towards the faith of
the Christians. Through her intervention, she saved Bishop and Saint
Babylas of Antioch
from persecution.
In August 249, Philip had died in battle in Verona and
Decius (emperor)
became the new emperor. Severa was in Rome that time. When
the news of Philip’s death had reached Rome, Severa’s son was murdered by the
Praetorian Guard
. The child died in her arms. Severa survived her husband
and son and lived later in obscurity. Her later life is unknown.
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