The Arras Medallion was issued to commemorate Constantius Chlorus recovery of Britain’s and the rescue of London in 296 AD . It is the intention of this source criticism to evaluate the medallion and determine its value to the study of government and society under Diocletian. The source provides valuable insight into how the tetrarchs presented themselves. It will be suggested that the source reveals the tetrarchs promotion of images that portray them as united and equal. In addition there is a sense of militarism and just rule that the tetrarchs where also keen to promote. Along with corroboration of literary sources and a possible, however slight, example of individualism makes the sources valuable with regards to tetrarchic propaganda.
The deciphered legend on the obverse of the coin (Flavius Valerius Constantius noble Caesar) indentifies the figure as Constantius Chlorus. The inclusion of PTA on the bottom of the reverse side indicates that it was made it Trier. Given that he is identified as Caesar the coin can be attributed to anywhere between 293 and 305 AD. However, as the reverse shows a depiction of the re-conquest of Britain it was likely commissioned in 296/7 AD .
Constantius is seen wearing a laurel wreath and armour and looking to one side. These features along with the stubble beard are key similarities that many tetrarchic coins shared . Indeed the coins of the tetrarchs are so similar in form that without the legend, identification of the individual would be difficult. This was part of the tetrarchs desire to appear united and equal to create contrast with the destructive divisions that occurred during the early third century. According to Southern the adoption of Flavius Valerius into his name was also...
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...s an example of the tetrarchic unity being challenged. The source also corroborates the literary account and reveals the desire of the tetrarchs to appear just in rule. Whether the source is an accurate depiction of the reaction to the tetrarchs is another matter entirely. Overall, the Arras medallion proves valuable in the study of Diocletian’s reign as it provides insight into how the tetrarchs wanted to be perceived.
Bibliography
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Rees, R., 2004 Diocletian and the Tetrachy, Edinburgh University Press Ltd, Edinburgh,
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Southern, P,. 2001 The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine, Routledge, London,
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Internet resource
http://tetrarchy.com/coppermine/(accessed 07/04/2012)
In this documentary report I shall look at the account of Urban II’s speech we are given by Fulcher of Chartres and assess it’s usefulness according to it’s likely reliability and it’s concurrence with the other accounts of Urban’s speech and the evidence we have from his letters. I shall first look at who Fulcher of Chartres was, as his role in society is important for understanding how he may have come to be aware of or present at the council of Clermont. A brief look at Fulcher will also provide an insight into what his opinions may have been and how this may colour his representation of the events. I shall also look at the message as we see it in Fulcher’s version of events and then at the overall view we are given from the evidence. I shall also look at the conclusions that ‘modern’ scholars have come to. Finally I shall look at the outcomes of this council and how much the outcomes reflect the aims we are told about in the accounts of the council of Clermont.
Plate 101. N.d. A History Of Lindale. Rome: Art Department of Rome, 1997. XXXVIII. Print.
The effects of this go far beyond the imbalance of military power between Athens and her tributaries, however. The Old Oligarch lists four main areas where the existence of the Empire benefits the common people of Athens, thus giving impetus to radicalize democracy and justify the expansion and strengthening of the Empire, and giving is reason to find an ongoing justification for its existence. The first is the building of the disproportionately large Athenian navy. Second is the overall flattening of the Athenian social pyramid, raising the relative status of the lowest classes of society, and exemplified by the way that Athens becomes a magnet for aliens to live and work, and gives unusual freedom and opportunity to slaves. Third is that the allies are compelled to have their court cases tried in Athenian courts, bringing both prestige and financial reward to Athens. Finally, the centralizing effect of these things, and the obvious maritime nature of the Empire, make Athens a trading center, m...
Livius, Titus. The Early History of Rome. Trans. Aubrey De Sélincourt. London: Penguin Group, 2002. N. pag. Print.
Zonaras, Joannes, Thomas Banchich, and Eugene Lane. The History of Zonaras: from Alexander Severus to the Death of Theodosius the Great. London: Routledge, 2009. Print.
Livy’s The Rise of Rome serves as the ultimate catalogue of Roman history, elaborating on the accomplishments of each king and set of consuls through the ages of its vast empire. In the first five books, Livy lays the groundwork for the history of Rome and sets forth a model for all of Rome to follow. For him, the “special and salutary benefit of the study of history is to behold evidence of every sort of behaviour set forth as on a splendid memorial; from it you may select for yourself and for your country what to emulate, from it what to avoid, whether basely begun or basely concluded.” (Livy 4). Livy, however, denies the general populace the right to make the same sort of conclusions that he made in constructing his histories. His biased representation of Romulus and Tarquin Superbus, two icons of Roman history, give the readers a definite model of what a Roman should be, instead of allowing them to come to their own conclusion.
4)Rosenstein, Nathan Stewart., and Robert Morstein-Marx. A Companion to the Roman Republic. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2006. Print.
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8. Edmondson, J. C., and MyiLibrary. “Augustus”. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 4 May 2014.
In this brief monograph, we shall be hunting down and examining various creatures from the bestiary of Medieval/Renaissance thought. Among these are the fierce lion of imperious, egotistical power, a pair of fantastic peacocks, one of vanity, one of preening social status, and the docile lamb of humility. The lion and the peacocks are of the species known as pride, while the lamb is of an entirely different, in fact antithetical race, that of humility and forgiveness. The textual regions we shall be exploring include the diverse expanses, from palace to heath, of William Shakespeare, the dark, sinister Italy of John Webster, and the perfumed lady's chambers of Ben Jonson and Robert Herrick.
Rich, John and Graham Shipley. War and Society In The Roman World. London: Routledge, 1993.
Grant, Michael. From Alexander to Cleopatra: The Hellenistic World. New York: Micheal Grant Publications Ltd, 1982.
"Plutarch, The Spartacus Slave War" In Spartacus And Slave Wars, ed. Brent D. Shaw (Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2001) 131-138
We have now examined Thucydides' strongest arguments for Athenian rule. It is clear that Athens had a stronger claim to rule than the Melians had to remain sovereign. We also know that Athens' claims hold up when we examine them for validity. Thucydides beliefs in Athens' claims were therefore well founded.