![]() Potential for redemption aside, Caracalla met an evil end. ![]() In any case, the gods reportedly rejected Caracalla’s offerings, deeming it too late to turn the Emperor from the dark side. Interestingly, Apollo appears on the verso of this denarius, holding a laurel branch and a lyre, perhaps an allusion to the deity’s healing aspect. Grannus was also identified with the Greco-Roman god Apollo. Perhaps seeking physical and mental wellbeing, Caracalla took the opportunity while in Germania to visit the shrine of Grannus, the local Celtic deity associated with healing and hot springs. His stern, bearded physiognomy suggests descent into depravity (for comparison, consider the portrayal of young Bassianus on the preceeding denarius within this collection). The obverse portrait is characteristic of coinage struck in the latter years of Caracalla’s reign as sole Augusutus. This denarius, struck in 215 AD Rome, serves as a gem mint-state example its obverse inscription reads ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM. For these efforts, Caracalla earned the title of Germanicus Maximus, as credited on his subsequent imperial coinage. He achieved some success, although final peace was bought at the cost of hefty bribes. In 213 AD, Caracalla campaigned along the German frontier against the Alamanni. To this end, in 212 AD, the Edict of Caracalla granted Roman citizenship to all free men and women throughout the Empire, not only elevating their legal status, but also (and more importantly) requiring them to pay taxes. This currency debasement, coupled with aggressive military pay raises, required increased revenues. Under Caracalla’s reign, Roman currency devalued the denarius silver content decreased (as in this coin), and a new "double denarius" was issued (albeit without double the value in silver content). Caracalla used a similar ploy to deceive the Parthians he played along with a marriage and peace proposal, only to launch blistering attacks as their guard was down. After ten months of political strife and plotting, a final peace offering was conducted - final because Caracalla used the opportunity to have his brother murdered, one of many brutal massacres and persecutions he conducted throughout the empire. The two brothers grew up as fierce rivals, which did not bode well for their shared rule. Carcalla was subsequently forced to share Rome's throne with his younger brother Geta. At the age of 10, Lucius Septimius Bassianus, better known to history as Caracalla (188-217 AD), was proclaimed Augustus, and ruled jointly with his father, Septimus Severus, who died twelve years later. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |