Name Of Philip I Essay

What’s in a Coin Today, most people take coins for granted. They are simply used as a form of payment, a means to determine which football team will get the ball first, or even as a way to pass time. However, in Rome in the third century AD this was not the case.
Coins had an extreme significance and a value that was not taken lightly. Unlike in the modern day United States, in ancient Rome new coins were constantly being issued with each new Emperor and generally various coins were issued, not just solely one. Philip I, or as many knew him Philip the Arab, was no different.
In the year 244 AD Philip I became the new Emperor of Rome, and one of his many perks was the issuing of coins in his name. One coin in particular had an obverse inscription of: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG that wrapped around the outer edge of the coin. The image at the center of the coin, which took up most of the entire
Obverse face was Philip I’s portrait, or his radiate, and draped bust right. The inscription is just another form of writing his name. IMP represents “Imperator.” PHILIPPVS represents “Philip I.” AVG represents Augustus. So in essence the inscription means: “Imperator Philip I Augustus.” Emperor Philip I, or Philip the Arab, was an important figure
because he reigned during a particularly special era in Rome.
Philip I, or Marcus Julius Philippus, was born in the modern day town of Shabba. Shabba is located in the province of Syria, 55 miles south of Damascus, which was in the Roman province of Arabia Petrae at the time. The town of Shabba was later renamed Philippopolis in dedication to the Emperor. The reason being was that he turned his small native town into a near replica of a Roman city. The town felt honored, so in Philip’s memory, Shabba was renamed. While the exact date of his birth is unclear, it is most certainly known that he was indeed born during the reign of Septimus Severus. Some sources say that his birth occurred in 204, but it is still not for certain.
His father was Julius Marimus. His name indicates that he was not a native to Rome, but his family held a Roman Citizenship, which also meant that they must have been locally prominent. Very little is known about his mother. Philip I had only one brother, Julius Priscus, and according to (Insert Source), much of Philip’s social and political accomplishments came as a direct result of his brother’s renown political success and military triumphs.
Julius Priscus found favor in the eyes of Gordian III and was appointed praetorian perfect by him. He had previously served as Perfect of Mesopotamia. Priscus then rose quickly among the Equestrian offices. Soon he was Procurator of Macedonia. Later in 242 Philip joined Priscus as Praetorian Perfect, which made them Emperor Gordian III’s most powerful deputies during the campaign against the Persians. (Insert Source) says that it was successes such as those that allowed Philip to get close enough to Gordian III to murder him and take the title of Emperor. It is not exactly clear why his brother, Priscus, did not become Emperor. Instead, Priscus took complete control of the Eastern Provinces.
Philip I married Marcia Otacilia Server in the 230 AD and she bore him a son in 238 AD by the name of Marcus Julius Severus Philippus. Philip I ruled in Rome from 244AD – 248AD. During his reign he patched up hasty and quite humiliating treaty with Shapur !. The reasoning behind this is a little obscure. Some say it was to be confirmed by the senate, while others say it was because the Persian campaign was beginning to turn against Rome. Either way, he did not capitalize on Gordian III’s military gains against the Sasasnians as many expected him to. After he was confirmed by the Senate, he remained in Asia Minor, probably to oversee the Persian front. Shortly after (245-257 AD) he spent much of his time on the Danube trying to fight off invasions from the Capri, but managed to make it to Rome in 248 AD, just in time for the Millennium celebration, (which is precisely what is on the reverse inscription of his coin.) SAECVLARES AVGG is the inscription that wraps around the outer edge of the reverse side of the coin. In the center of the coin is the picture of a gazelle standing left. The letters VI are inscribed in exergue. SAECVLARES AVGG stands for “Ludi Seculares” which translates to “Secular Games.” The Romans held massive celebrations about every 100 years. It was the centennial rites and games of Ancient Rome that symbolized the commencement of a new generation. The first known, or recorded Roman games were held in 249 BC. However, some may argue that these games did not originate in Rome. (Insert source) says the Eutruscan’s held similar games in which they offered sacrifices to their underworld gods. Whether the Roman or the Eutruscans held the games first, it is the Romans that definitely kept the tradition alive.
These games lasted three days and three nights, and consisted of sacrifices followed by theatrical performances. Various animals were brought in or imported for exhibition purposes, and perhaps were sacrificed. Sometimes emperors would have them on other dates as well, but the year that the Ludi Seculares fell on Emperor Philip’s reign was special.
248 AD was Rome’s 1000th year anniversary upon its formation.
This could only mean there was definitely a millennium style celebration that came along with it. The gazelle, which is displayed on the reverse of this coin, is not simply just a regular animal to be showed at the Ludi Seculares. The gazelle is a native of Africa, and therefore it had to have been imported to Rome for this particular occasion, making it something quite exotic, which was nothing less than adequate for the grandeur style of this celebration. Respectively the most extravagant of celebrations also were the last. By the year 314 AD when Constantine I reigned as Emperor, he banished all secular games because of his Christian beliefs. (Insert
source)
Even though the Christian Constantine I tried to end the Secular Games, there was the mythology of where they originated that he could never keep quite. According to (instert source) there was a man by the name of Publius Valesius Publicola that needed to find a cure for his children because they, along with a vast number of the Roman populating were perishing due to a disturbing disease. As legend has it, Valesius heard a voice tell him to go to the city of Tarentum and dig out water for his children to drink. Upon doing so, his children and all of Rome were miraculously cured. He was also instructed to offer a sacrifice, and upon digging, he found an alter that was already dedicated to Pluto and Proserpine. Thus, marking the beginnings of the Ludi Saeculares, which were also solemn and not a celebration as many so believe. But as the centuries went by, more events were added and it was not as solemn as it was when it first began. In fact they were so spectacular that they were only offered every 100 years because it was said that these festivals were “what people had never seen and would not see again.” Although this ancient silver antoninianus coin may be small in stature, being that it only weighs 4.05 grams, is only 22 millimeters in diameter, and is aligned on the 12 o’clock die axis, it certainly has huge value in our present time as well as back in 248 AD when it was minted in Rome and issued by Emperor Philip I. The images and inscriptions of this coin give us a small glimpse of what life in Rome during the third century might have been.