Heliopolis was formally granted status as a colonie with ius italicum after the civil wars that led to Septimius Severus becoming emperor. The full name of the colony Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Heliopolitana, suggest that it may have been founded by Augustus. "The city of Heliopolis also received the title of an Italian colony from the divine Severus, on account of services rendered during the Civil War." -Ulpian, On Taxes, 50.15.1.2 This gave the colony the same rights as cities on Italian soil and punished Berytus for supporting Pescennius Niger. Two Syrian governors became emperor during the year of five emperors (193 AD): Pertinax (a former governor of Syria) and Pescennius Niger (governor of Syria at the time that he was declared emperor). Septimius Severus split the province of Syria in two - to reduce the risk that a unified Syria offered for a high powered proconsul (governor) to emerge. This coin drew my attention with the attractive portraits of Septimius Severus and Tyche of Heliopolis. Notes: for more on this coin and the year of five emperors, see: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/city-of-the-sun Post your coins of Syria, Septimius Severus, Tyche - or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.
PHOENICIA ARADOS AR Tetradrachm OBVERSE: Turreted, veiled, and draped bust of Tyche right REVERSE: Nike standing left, holding aphlaston and palm branch; in left field, ZOP (date) above Aramaic B above ΘЄ; all within wreath Arados CY 177 (83/2 BC) 14.91g, 27mm Duyrat 3536–49; HGC 10, 72; DCA 772 Ex JAZ Numismatics
I have a Tyche reverse on a Severus Alexander coin CILICIA. Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Severus Alexander (222-235). Ae. Obv: ΑV Κ Μ ΑVΡ СЄΟVΗΡ ΑΛЄΞΑ, with remaining part of legend ΝΔΡΟС right field inside legend. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: СЄΛЄVΚЄΩΝ ΚΑΛVΚΑΔΝ, with remaining Ω of legend in upper right field. Tyche, holding branch, seated left on rocks between two columns; river god Calycadnum to lower left. RPC VI online 7034. Weight: 13.99 g. Diameter: 29 mm. Online Plate coin: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/search/browse?q=Severus Alexander&page=109 (AC Search) ex Numismatik Naumann (formerly Gitbud & Naumann). Auction 79, Lot# 439, 07/07/2019. Purchased from Marti Classical Numismatics, Spain, 2023.
Julia Domna, Emesa, AE 24 mm Obv.: IOV[ΛIA] ΔOMNA [AVΓ]. , bust of Julia Domna right Rev.: [EMICΩ]N KOΛΩNIAC / ZKΦ : year 527 sel. = 215-216 AD. , monumental cubic altar on three steps, with 2 storeys ornamented with 3 niches with statues, small lighted altar on top. This kind of monumental cubic altar is well-known in Roman Syria. There was one much like it in front of Jupiter's Temple in Heliopolis (Baalbek, Lebanon), not far from Emesa ; it has been excavated and partially restored by a Swiss mission. A structure of the same kind has been restored in Gerasa (Jerash, Jordan) in front of Zeus Temple. We know no trace of any ancient sanctuary in today's Homs, but the cubic altar depicted on this coin was probably in front of the Elagabal Temple. The High-Priest (future emperor Elagabalus) is said to have been "dancing around the altars" : this was in fact the circumambulatio, the same rite of the "tawwaf" performed by today's Muslims who turn around the Cube (Kaaba) in Mekka.
Love the side view of that coin @Bing! Great coin @expat, although your photo doesn't do the coin justice. RPC photo is much nicer: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/30225 always fun to have "the coin" from a reference (online or paper). Thank, @GinoLR, I always enjoy learning something from your posts...an interesting coin with "monumental cubic altar"!
Ulpian, Digest [50.15.1.3]: There is also the colony of Laodicea, in Coele Syria, to which also the divine Severus granted the Italian Law on account of its services in the Civil War. Before Severus, Laodicea was one of the "Four Sisters" founded by Seleucus I Nikator (reigned 305-281 BC). He founded 4 cities : Antiochia named after his father Antiochos, Seleucis named after himself, Apamea named after his wife Apama and Laodicea named after his mother Laodike. Laodicea was declared a "free city" by Julius Caesar, and the city took his name : Julia Laodicea. Much later, during the civil war on AD 193, Laodicea refused to support Pescennius Niger and supported his rival Septimius Severus. But Severus' troops weren't there yet to help, and Laodicea was laid waste by Niger's men. Septimius Severus rebuilt it and, as a reward, made it a colony with the jus italicum. Three coins of Laodicea : Trajan, Laodicea, AE 25 mm, 113-114 AD Obv.: [AYTOKP. NEP.] TPAIANOC APICT. [KAIC. CEB. ΓEP. ΔAK. ΠAP.] , laureate bust right Rev.: IOYΛIEωN TωN KAI ΛAO[ΔIKEωN BΞP] , turreted bust of Tyche right, in r. field monogram. The rev. legend means : "(coins of the citizens of) Julia, AKA Laodicea". The date, year 162, refers to the local caesarian era beginning in 49 BC when Julius Caesar liberated the city and declared it a free city. Antoninus Pius, Laodicea, AE 24 mm, 140-141 AD Obv.: Illegible legend mostly out of flan , laureate head of Antoninus Pius right IOYΛIEωN TωN KAI ΛAOΔIKEωN, turreted bust of Tyche right ; to the right ΘE, to the left HΠP : year 188 = 140-141 AD. The crown of the Tyche is a model of the city walls, with the arched gate flanked by two towers. After the city received the colonial status with the Italian law, the citizens were Roman citizens, the official language was Latin and local coins had Latin legends : Elagabalus, Laodicea, AE 23 mm, 218-222 Obv.: [IMP.] C. M. AVR. ANTONINVS , laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus r. COLONIA LAODIC M[ETROPO]LEOS / Δ Є , temple or shrine with two columns and domed roof, enclosing eagle facing, head l. Actually Metropoleos is a Greek genitive, but it seems it was used in Latin as well. Cf. RPC VI, 8168 (temporary) - Not exactly the same rev. legend. Laodicea is now the Syrian port-city of Latakia, there was also a nice beach resort before the civil war (not the one of 193, the one of 2011). Remains of the Roman city can be seen downtown.
Great coin Sulla, you can always tell Heliopolis Septimius coins as they have a distinctive portrait, compared to other cities. Septimius Severus Heliopolis, Syria, Temple of Jupiter, 15.56gm, 24.1mm, BMC 290, 2 Otacilia Severa (Augusta, 244-249). Coele-Syria, Heliopolis. Æ (31mm, 13.53g, 6h). Diademed and draped bust r., Set on crescent. R / Propylaeum of temple of Jupiter Heliopolitanus. BMC 20, 23; Price-Trell 162, fig. 284.
Another coin for @GinoLR in appreciation of the additions above: Est et Laodicena colonia in Syria Coele, cui Divus Severus ius italicum ob belli civilis merita concessit. -Ulpianus, from the Digest of Justinian, 50.15.1.3 "Julia Laodicea Metropolis" on the reverse Roman Provincial Coins, Seleucis and Pieria, Laodicea ad Mare. Septimius Severus (193-211). AE (26mm, 12g). Obv: Laureate head right. Rev: IOVΛ / ΛAOΔI / CЄOVH MH / TPOΠOΛ / ЄωC, in wreath Ref: SNG Copenhagen 361.
The city is called Julia Laodicea Severa Metropolis, but no mention of colonia. Metropolis means provincial capital. Antioch, the capital of the Seleucid kingdom, and later of Roman Syria, had been punished by Septimius Severus for her supporting of Pescennius Niger. It was deprived of its city-status and annexed to Laodicea, declared the new metropolis (capital) of "Syria Coele", a new province which was the northern half of the former province of Syria. But some time later Septimius Severus restored Antioch as a city and metropolis of Syria Coele. Officially it was at Caracalla's request.
