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strange_complexAllow me to introduce my new icon: Fortuna. She is the Roman Lady Luck, and is here to plug a long-felt gap in my icon collection. Henceforth, when people are doing exams, going for job interviews or simply heading out on an important date, Fortuna will be there to help me wish them good luck appropriately.
In fact, the coin I've taken her from is a rather interesting one, and worthy of comment in its own right. Let's take a look, shall we?
The Fortuna coin is one of two major types produced by the moneyer Q. Sicinius in the crucial year 49 BC (the other one being a rather ravishing Apollo, with references to his struggle against Hercules for the Delphic tripod and an interesting role to play in contemporary jostling for his potential as a political icon). It's an aesthetically beautiful piece, but one rich with political symbolism as well.
49, you see, was the year that Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and marched towards Rome to engage in conflict with Pompey and his 'Republican' supporters. The stakes were high: these were the two most powerful men in the Roman world, and whoever won would establish his dominance over both his fellow aristocrats and indeed the entire empire.
So it's in this context that Sicinius, a supporter of Pompey and the senate, presents us with his coins. Fortuna is depicted from the shoulders up only, as is typical on Roman coins, but nonetheless she can be readily identified by her phallic ear-rings. No sniggering at the back, there: phalli were widely used as good luck charms in the Roman world, and don't seem to have had much erotic or titillating sigificance when doing so.
She has been labelled, too, however - partly to aid the identification, but also to make her political meaning clear. This isn't just any Fortuna, you see (although that's how I'll be using it). This is FORT(una) P(opuli) R(omani) - the Fortune of the Roman People. Lady Luck is on our side, the coin is saying. Citizens, throw your lot in with Pompey, and your safety, prosperity and good fortune is assured by the goddess.
The message is reinforced on the reverse. The text on this side records the name of our moneyer: Q. SICINIUS IIIVIR = triumvir (monetalis), a junior political office with responsibility for overseeing the production of coins. Meanwhile the images continue to evoke support for and confidence in Pompey and the Republican cause.
Most obviously, we have a palm branch and a laurel wreath, both symbols of victory: assured, of course, if you support Pompey. We also have a caduceus: nowadays generally associated with the medical profession, but at the time linked mainly with Mercury, herald of the gods and travellers' guide. The symbolism here is complex, but the caduceus also appears on coins held by goddesses such as Pax (Peace), Felicitas (another kind of Good Fortune) and Concordia (Harmony), so it is probably functioning here as a promise of all those things under Pompey's leadership.
Sicinius' faith, of course, was misplaced. Within a year, Pompey was dead. What happened to Sicinius himself is, as far as I know, unrecorded, but once he'd placed his name on coins which supported the Republican cause, it's unlikely to have been a happy ending for him.
Still, the coin as a whole is a fine work of both public relations and the die-cutter's art. It deserves replicating and commemorating. And I hope it will be more lucky for all of you than it was for Pompey.
In fact, the coin I've taken her from is a rather interesting one, and worthy of comment in its own right. Let's take a look, shall we?
The Fortuna coin is one of two major types produced by the moneyer Q. Sicinius in the crucial year 49 BC (the other one being a rather ravishing Apollo, with references to his struggle against Hercules for the Delphic tripod and an interesting role to play in contemporary jostling for his potential as a political icon). It's an aesthetically beautiful piece, but one rich with political symbolism as well.
49, you see, was the year that Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and marched towards Rome to engage in conflict with Pompey and his 'Republican' supporters. The stakes were high: these were the two most powerful men in the Roman world, and whoever won would establish his dominance over both his fellow aristocrats and indeed the entire empire.
So it's in this context that Sicinius, a supporter of Pompey and the senate, presents us with his coins. Fortuna is depicted from the shoulders up only, as is typical on Roman coins, but nonetheless she can be readily identified by her phallic ear-rings. No sniggering at the back, there: phalli were widely used as good luck charms in the Roman world, and don't seem to have had much erotic or titillating sigificance when doing so.
She has been labelled, too, however - partly to aid the identification, but also to make her political meaning clear. This isn't just any Fortuna, you see (although that's how I'll be using it). This is FORT(una) P(opuli) R(omani) - the Fortune of the Roman People. Lady Luck is on our side, the coin is saying. Citizens, throw your lot in with Pompey, and your safety, prosperity and good fortune is assured by the goddess.
The message is reinforced on the reverse. The text on this side records the name of our moneyer: Q. SICINIUS IIIVIR = triumvir (monetalis), a junior political office with responsibility for overseeing the production of coins. Meanwhile the images continue to evoke support for and confidence in Pompey and the Republican cause.
Most obviously, we have a palm branch and a laurel wreath, both symbols of victory: assured, of course, if you support Pompey. We also have a caduceus: nowadays generally associated with the medical profession, but at the time linked mainly with Mercury, herald of the gods and travellers' guide. The symbolism here is complex, but the caduceus also appears on coins held by goddesses such as Pax (Peace), Felicitas (another kind of Good Fortune) and Concordia (Harmony), so it is probably functioning here as a promise of all those things under Pompey's leadership.
Sicinius' faith, of course, was misplaced. Within a year, Pompey was dead. What happened to Sicinius himself is, as far as I know, unrecorded, but once he'd placed his name on coins which supported the Republican cause, it's unlikely to have been a happy ending for him.
Still, the coin as a whole is a fine work of both public relations and the die-cutter's art. It deserves replicating and commemorating. And I hope it will be more lucky for all of you than it was for Pompey.
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no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 12:23 (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 12:59 (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 12:30 (UTC)I do, however, think that you should maybe get yourself the Apollo icon for now, that is until you come across something better to use for politics.
no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 13:01 (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 12:36 (UTC)Interesting read,thank you
no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 13:01 (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 12:38 (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 13:02 (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, 20 October 2005 22:43 (UTC)Don't know if you remember me, but I just added you:D
no subject
Date: Friday, 21 October 2005 08:33 (UTC)no subject
Date: Friday, 21 October 2005 02:38 (UTC)Very interesting, and cool too.
Bah, must think of something intelligent for my next lj entry. Can't let myself be outdone! (Competitive, me? Never!) 8)
no subject
Date: Friday, 21 October 2005 08:34 (UTC)Glad you liked it, and I look forward to reading your next entry! :)