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The Secular Games
SmEagle1795
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The Secular Games were some of the largest and most memorable celebrations in antiquity. They were held on two different cycles, first on the "saeculum", thought to be the longest possible length of a human life (between 100 and 110 years) and on the even centennial anniversaries of the founding of Rome.
Because of frequent conflict, the games were not always held consistently but were held throughout the history of the empire, with some evidence pointing to the first games taking place in 509 BC but with more regular games taking place during the Roman Republic in 249 BC and the 140s BC.
Augustus held games in 17 BC, and later emperors followed in 88 AD and 204 AD, approximately 110 years between games on the “saeculum” cycle. Claudius also held celebrations in 47 AD to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Rome's foundation, leading to subsequent games in 148 AD by Antoninus Pius and 248 AD by Septimius Severus.
Septimius Severus saw many parallels in his conquests to those of Augustus two hundred years earlier so he continued the tradition of the Secular Games. These games were lavish and significant with animal hunts as well as chariot races in Circus Maximus. Dio Cassius wrote:
“The whole construction in the amphitheatre was made in the form of a ship, and was so conceived that 400 beasts might be received into it, and at the same time be sent forth from it. Then, when it suddenly collapsed there issued out of it bears, lionesses, panthers, lions, ostriches, wild asses and bison, so that seven hundred beasts, both wild and domesticated, were seen running about at the same time and were slaughtered.” (LXXVII, 4-5).
The inscription on this coin refers to Septimius Severus inaugurating a new golden age, a happy time: “Laetitia Temporum”
This coin appears to depict two different events, the chariot races in the Circus represented by the quadrigae above the ship, and the large animal hunt which took place on the seventh and final day of the games, mirroring the precise description written by Dio Cassius with each animal type visible on the commemorative coins.
[Septimius Severus. (193-211 AD). Silver denarius (3.42 gm). Rome, 206 AD. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, head laureate right / LAETITIA TEMPORVM, the spina of the Circus Maximus decorated as a ship facing left, with the turning posts at its prow and stern, a sail mounted on the central obelisk, and the spina's other monuments visible in between; above the ship, four quadrigas racing left; below, seven animals: an ostrich at left and bear at right; between them a lion and a lioness chasing a wild ass and a panther attacking a bison. BMCRE 343. RIC 274 (R2). Cohen 253 (60 Fr.).]
The games by Septimius Severus were unfortunately the last on the "saeculum" cycle as 110 years later, Constantie I was emperor and the games put to an end.
However, in 244 AD, Philip the Arab became a major figure within the Roman Empire, negotiating peace with the Sassanid Empire soon after ascending to the thrown upon the death of Gordian III.
In April 248 AD, Philip led the celebrations of the thousandth anniversary of the founding Rome. Philip spent a massive amount of money on the celebrations with fantastic games, theatrical presentations, and major events within the Colosseum where more than 1,000 gladiators were killed along with hundreds of exotic animals. This coin was minted for these games, with the inscription MILITARIVM SAECVLVM, referring to the next “millenary age”: the completion of the first 1,000 years and the start of the next.
[Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ Sestertius (29mm, 20.81 g, 12h). Secular Games issue. Rome mint, 5th officina. 10th emission, AD 249. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / MILIARIVM SAECVLVM, cippus inscribed COS/III in two lines. RIC IV 157a; Banti 24.]
These would also prove to be the last centennial celebrations and the end of a centuries long set of popular traditions. Some superstitious contemporary historians blamed the decline of the Roman Empire on the cancellation of the much-loved ritual and while it certainly harmed morale, Rome had more problems brewing than just the lack of large celebrations.
Because of frequent conflict, the games were not always held consistently but were held throughout the history of the empire, with some evidence pointing to the first games taking place in 509 BC but with more regular games taking place during the Roman Republic in 249 BC and the 140s BC.
Augustus held games in 17 BC, and later emperors followed in 88 AD and 204 AD, approximately 110 years between games on the “saeculum” cycle. Claudius also held celebrations in 47 AD to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Rome's foundation, leading to subsequent games in 148 AD by Antoninus Pius and 248 AD by Septimius Severus.
Septimius Severus saw many parallels in his conquests to those of Augustus two hundred years earlier so he continued the tradition of the Secular Games. These games were lavish and significant with animal hunts as well as chariot races in Circus Maximus. Dio Cassius wrote:
“The whole construction in the amphitheatre was made in the form of a ship, and was so conceived that 400 beasts might be received into it, and at the same time be sent forth from it. Then, when it suddenly collapsed there issued out of it bears, lionesses, panthers, lions, ostriches, wild asses and bison, so that seven hundred beasts, both wild and domesticated, were seen running about at the same time and were slaughtered.” (LXXVII, 4-5).
The inscription on this coin refers to Septimius Severus inaugurating a new golden age, a happy time: “Laetitia Temporum”
This coin appears to depict two different events, the chariot races in the Circus represented by the quadrigae above the ship, and the large animal hunt which took place on the seventh and final day of the games, mirroring the precise description written by Dio Cassius with each animal type visible on the commemorative coins.
[Septimius Severus. (193-211 AD). Silver denarius (3.42 gm). Rome, 206 AD. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, head laureate right / LAETITIA TEMPORVM, the spina of the Circus Maximus decorated as a ship facing left, with the turning posts at its prow and stern, a sail mounted on the central obelisk, and the spina's other monuments visible in between; above the ship, four quadrigas racing left; below, seven animals: an ostrich at left and bear at right; between them a lion and a lioness chasing a wild ass and a panther attacking a bison. BMCRE 343. RIC 274 (R2). Cohen 253 (60 Fr.).]
The games by Septimius Severus were unfortunately the last on the "saeculum" cycle as 110 years later, Constantie I was emperor and the games put to an end.
However, in 244 AD, Philip the Arab became a major figure within the Roman Empire, negotiating peace with the Sassanid Empire soon after ascending to the thrown upon the death of Gordian III.
In April 248 AD, Philip led the celebrations of the thousandth anniversary of the founding Rome. Philip spent a massive amount of money on the celebrations with fantastic games, theatrical presentations, and major events within the Colosseum where more than 1,000 gladiators were killed along with hundreds of exotic animals. This coin was minted for these games, with the inscription MILITARIVM SAECVLVM, referring to the next “millenary age”: the completion of the first 1,000 years and the start of the next.
[Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ Sestertius (29mm, 20.81 g, 12h). Secular Games issue. Rome mint, 5th officina. 10th emission, AD 249. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / MILIARIVM SAECVLVM, cippus inscribed COS/III in two lines. RIC IV 157a; Banti 24.]
These would also prove to be the last centennial celebrations and the end of a centuries long set of popular traditions. Some superstitious contemporary historians blamed the decline of the Roman Empire on the cancellation of the much-loved ritual and while it certainly harmed morale, Rome had more problems brewing than just the lack of large celebrations.
Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
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Amazing coins.
P.S. Your coins are awesome!
<< <i>Ah the Ludi Saeculares, Domitian was responsible for the games held in 88 AD; here's the coin he issued:
P.S. Your coins are awesome! >>
Thanks! I think I'm going to need to add a Domitian as well now that I've seen yours!
Then I saw the reverse.
Wow.
PS- SE1795- I was just thinking about architectural reverses on Roman coins and wondered if you had one of those Nero sestertii with the Ostia harbor scene.
<< <i>Looking at the Septimius Severus denarius in the OP, I glanced at the obverse first, and found myself thinking, "Hmm, that's a nice coin, but SeptSevs often come nice. Seems rather a pedestrian thing for SE1795 to have."
Then I saw the reverse.
Wow. [/QUOTE]
Thanks!
[QUOTE]PS- SE1795- I was just thinking about architectural reverses on Roman coins and wondered if you had one of those Nero sestertii with the Ostia harbor scene. >>
Not yet, but it's high up on my wantlist. There's one on the market right now which is tempting but smoothed, and I've convinced myself to have some patience and wait for very nice examples. It's a "relatively" common coin but there haven't been any very nice ones up for sale since ~2009, so one's bound to show up soon.