Septimius Severus Last Coin ------------------ Next Coin Caracalla

Roman Empire

Ruler: Julia Domna Wife of Septimius Severus
Reigned: died 217 AD
Denomination: AR Denarius
Mint: Rome
Date of Issue: 205 AD
Obverse: Draped bust right. "IVLIA AVGVSTA"
Reverse: Julia Domna (as Cybele) holding branch, driving quadriga of lions left. "MATER AVGG"
Reference: RIC (Severus) 562; BMCRE (Severus) 48; RSC 117
Weight: 3.4 gms
Diameter: 18.5 mm

JULIA DOMNA wife of Septimius Severus

  • Julia Domna was the daughter of Julius Bassianus, a priest of Sol, and Soaemias, and was born at Emesa in Syria.
  • She was married to Septimius Septimius, after the death of his first wife, in about A.D. 173.
  • In 188 she bore him his first son who was named Bassianus, later changed to Antoninus, and nicknamed Caracalla. A year later another son, Geta, was born.
  • In 193, Severus became Emperor.
  • While he was away, fighting battles and crushing revolts, Julia Domna administered the Roman Empire.
  • After the death of Severus in 211, Caracalla and Geta succeeded to the throne.
  • Caracalla murdered Geta in their mother's private apartments and Geta died in her arms.
  • After the murder of her son Caracalla in 217, Julia Domna starved herself to death rather than face exile or worse.

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