FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => History and Archeology => Topic started by: Constantine IV on January 30, 2012, 06:01:03 pm
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Hello all,
Browsing through my old copy of Chris Scares's "The Penguin Atlas Of Ancient Rome" I saw again a photo of what is described as a "5th century ivory plaque...a divinized emperor carried up from his funeral pyre by wind gods." (page 131)
Numerous times I had Googled for roman ivory plaques of emperors to see who this unnamed emperor could be.
So far to no avail.
So, I drew the monogram. If anyone can shed light it will be great!
Thank you,
Masis
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I chanced across this website : http://www.ancientcoinmuseum.com/HistoryPages/LATEROMANIMPERIALMONOGRAMS.html (http://www.ancientcoinmuseum.com/HistoryPages/LATEROMANIMPERIALMONOGRAMS.html)
I'll look and see if any match...
31/1 Trying to make a name out of the letters, I can make out a "C", "H", "M", "V" and "O". There may be two "A"s and what looks like either an "R" or "P".
The emperor depicted in the plaque is beared with curly hair. Due to copyright law I cannot take a photo of the photo in the book to show here, alas.
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I think the main monogram is RHV but other interpretations are also possible.
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Of course you can't miss the word "ROMA", with either "CV" or "CX" on top
Maybe CV = Caesar Valentinianus?
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Roma would make sense, maybe the plaque was in honour of the city.
I have to go on what Chris Scarre has written as the description saying it is of a 5th century emperor, however.
I was wondering if it might be a monogram of the general Ricimer, though he never could be emperor, he was that in all but name:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Ricimer_monogram.jpg)