Fekunditas ( lat. Fecunditas ) - the ancient Roman goddess of fertility. The priests of the goddess, who were called Luperki, were approached by women with corresponding requests. The ritual included striking the naked body with goatskin straps [1] . Sacrifice Fekunditas was also in the competence of the priestly collegium of the Arval brothers [2] [3] .
The first mention of the temple of Fekunditas dates back to the reign of Nero , when the Senate decided to erect a temple in honor of the goddess on the occasion of the birth of the child of Emperor Poppea’s wife Sabina [4] .
Fekunditas was repeatedly placed on coins. She was portrayed as a matron surrounded or holding children in her arms. Additional attributes could be a scepter, cornucopia , branch and caduceus [1] [5] .
Mostly Fekunditas appeared on coins with the image on the obverse of the emperor’s wife on the occasion of the birth of the ruling couple of a child. Often in such cases, an indication was made in the legend "FECVNDITAS AVG [VSTAE]" (fecundity of the empress) [6] . This goddess is present on coins with the image on the obverse of the following empresses and relatives of the reigning monarch:
- the wife of Antoninus Pius (138–161) of Faustina [7] ;
- the wife of Marcus Aurelius (161-180) Faustina [8] ;
- the wife of Commodus (177–192) Brutia Crispina [9] ;
- the wife of Septimius Severus (193-211) Julia Domna [10] ;
- mother of Caracalla (198–217) Julia Domna [11] ;
- the grandmothers of Heliogabal (218–222) Julia Mesa [12] ;
- mother of Alexander Severus (222–235) Julia Mamei [13] ;
- the wife of Decius Trajan (249–251) of Herenius of Etruscilla ;
- the wives of Gallienus (253-268) Cornelius of Salonina [14] .
Known coins on which Fekunditas on the reverse side by side with the emperor on the front of the coin. In such cases, it seems that we are talking about hybrid coins [15] .
In fascist Italy, Fekunditas again appeared on a coin with a face value of 5 lire in 1936. She is depicted with four children. The face value is placed at the bottom of the figure, two years of release - one according to the standard Gregorian calendar, the other - the fascist party coming to power in Italy. Only 2 years issued a coin for circulation in 1936 and 1937. As early as 1938-1941, 20 copies were minted exclusively for numismatists annually [16] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 DRC, 1889 , "Fecunditas", p. 377.
- ↑ Wissowa, 1909 , S. 2098.
- ↑ Peter, 1890 , S. 1471-1472.
- ↑ Tacitus. Annals. Book XV. 23 (3)
- ↑ Fengler, 1993 , Fekunditas .
- ↑ DRC, 1889 , "Fecunditas Avgustae", p. 377.
- ↑ RIC III Antoninus Pius 1142 . OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire). Date of treatment November 9, 2018.
- ↑ RIC III Marcus Aurelius 679 . OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire). Date of treatment November 9, 2018.
- ↑ RIC III Commodus 677 (as) . OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire). Date of treatment November 9, 2018.
- ↑ RIC IV Septimius Severus 534 (aureus) . OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire). Date of treatment November 9, 2018.
- ↑ RIC IV Caracalla 374 . OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire). Date of treatment November 9, 2018.
- ↑ RIC IV Elagabalus 249 . OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire). Date of treatment November 9, 2018.
- ↑ RIC IV Severus Alexander 332 . OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire). Date of treatment November 9, 2018.
- ↑ RIC V Salonina 15 . OCRE (Online Coins of the Roman Empire). Date of treatment November 9, 2018.
- ↑ DRC, 1889 , "Fecunditas Avg.", P. 377.
- ↑ Gigante, 2003 , p. 162.
Literature
- Fengler H., Girow G., Unger V. Dictionary of numismatists / Otv. ed. V.M. Potin. - 2nd ed., Revised. and add. - M .: Radio and communications, 1993. - ISBN 5-256-00317-8 .
- Fabio Gigante. Gigante 2004. Monete italiane dal '700 ad oggi. - Edizione: 12 °. - Varese: Gigante, 2003 .-- 788 p. - ISBN 8890038942 .
- Stevenson SW, Smith CR, Madden FW Fecunditas // A Dictionary of Roman Coins . - London: George Bell and sons, 1889 .-- P. 377.
- Wissowa Georg. Fecunditas // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft. - Stuttgart, 1909. - Bd. VI. 2 .-- S. 2098.
- Peter R. Fecunditas // Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie / Roscher WH. - Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von BG Teubner, 1890. - Bd. I. - Col. 1471-1472