Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 104 15 Dec 2022
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Anonymous Æ 13mm. Festival of Isis coinage. Alexandria, time of Julian II (?), mid 4th century AD. DEO SARAPIDI, draped bust of Sarapis to right, wearing modius / SANCTO NILO, river-god Nilus reclining left on hippopotamus, holding reed in right hand and cornucopiae in left; ALE in exergue. Alföldi pl. IV, 36; C. 34. 1.03g, 13mm, 12h.
Very Fine.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, E-Auction 486, 24 February 2021, lot 791 (since cleaned).
The Festival of Isis took place on March 5th as recorded in the calendar of Philocalus of AD 354. It is also mentioned in literary sources such as in the final book of Apuleius' Metamorphoses (11.7-16) in which he describes the proceedings as full of ritual and exotic Egyptian elements. During the festival good omens were sought for the well-being of sailors and the new season which marked the beginning of sailing after winter. However, it was also a pagan celebration which Andrew Alföldi argued acted as propaganda against the new faith (see A Festival of Isis in Rome under the Christian Emperors of the IVth Century, 1937).
These small coins have been connected with this festival due to the images of Isis which often frequent the obverses or reverses, and the scenes of the Navigium Isidis which often appear on the reverse. Alföldi therefore links these coins with pagan propaganda, arguing that the appearance of many other Egyptian gods (such as Harpocrates and Nilus) highlights the strength of Egyptian gods in Rome during the fourth century.
Very Fine.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, E-Auction 486, 24 February 2021, lot 791 (since cleaned).
The Festival of Isis took place on March 5th as recorded in the calendar of Philocalus of AD 354. It is also mentioned in literary sources such as in the final book of Apuleius' Metamorphoses (11.7-16) in which he describes the proceedings as full of ritual and exotic Egyptian elements. During the festival good omens were sought for the well-being of sailors and the new season which marked the beginning of sailing after winter. However, it was also a pagan celebration which Andrew Alföldi argued acted as propaganda against the new faith (see A Festival of Isis in Rome under the Christian Emperors of the IVth Century, 1937).
These small coins have been connected with this festival due to the images of Isis which often frequent the obverses or reverses, and the scenes of the Navigium Isidis which often appear on the reverse. Alföldi therefore links these coins with pagan propaganda, arguing that the appearance of many other Egyptian gods (such as Harpocrates and Nilus) highlights the strength of Egyptian gods in Rome during the fourth century.