Memmia



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    MEMMIA, a plebian family. Its surnames are uncertain. It coins which in silver are common exhibit fifteen varieties. Some were restored by Trajan and are very rare. The bronze pieces of this family are parts of the as. One of the scarce types refers to the Cerialia, or festival of Ceres; it bears on its obverse a laureate head, with curled beard, and the inscription C. MEMMI C.F. QVIRINVS.----On the reverse Ceres sitting; a serpent at her feet; in her right hand three ears of corn; in her left a distaff, and MEMMIVS. AED. CERIALIA. PREIMVS. FECIT.
    Whether the word Quirinus may be considered as a cognomen of the Memmia family, or whether it refers to the head as that of Quirinus or Romulus, or both together, is a point in dispute among the learned. But the reverse of this rare denarius teaches us that Memmius, in his edileship, was the first who celebrated at Rome the Cerialia, or feasts, in honour of the Goddess of Harvests, a ceremony held in much consideration by the Romans, but of the time of first celebrating it no mention is made by ancient writers.----We see Ceres with serpent, torch, and corn-ears, things dedicated to that divinity on account of the earth's fertility. The colus or distaff seems to point her out as presiding over the domestic care of matrons.----See Ceres and Cerialia.
    The same type, as restored by Trajan, bears on its exterior circle IMP. CAES. TRAIAN. AVG. GERM. DAC. P. P. REST.    Imperator Caesar Traianus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus Pater Patriae Restitut.

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