Julia Mammaea - Roman Empress wife of Emperor Severus
Alexander 222-235 A.D. -
Silver Denarius 19mm (3.1 grams) Rome mint: 227 A.D.
Reference: RIC 362 (Severus Alexander), BMC 440 (Severus Alexander), S 8218, C
85
IVLIAMAMAEAAVG - Diademed, draped bust right.
VESTA - Vesta standing left, holding patera and scepter.
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Vesta was
the
virgin goddess of the
hearth, home,
and family in
Roman religion. Vesta's presence was symbolized by the
sacred fire that burned at her hearth and temples.
Vesta's (in some versions she is called Vestia) fire was guarded at her
Temples by her
priestesses, the
Vestales. Every March 1 the fire was renewed. It burned until
391, when the Emperor
Theodosius I forbade public
pagan
worship. One of the Vestales mentioned in mythology was
Rhea
Silvia, who with the God
Mars conceived
Romulus and Remus (see
founding of Rome).
The Vestales were one of the few full-time
clergy
positions in
Roman religion. They were drawn from the
patrician class and had to observe absolute
chastity
for 30 years. It was from this that the Vestales were named the Vestal virgins.
They could not show excessive care of their person, and they were not allowed to
let the fire go out. The Vestal Virgins lived together in a house near the Forum
(Atrium Vestae), supervised by the
Pontifex Maximus. On becoming a priestess, a Vestal Virgin was legally
emancipated from her father's authority and swore a vow of chastity for 30
years. This vow was so sacred that if it were broken, the Vestal was buried
alive in the Campus Sceleris ('Field of Wickedness'). It is likely that
this is what happened to
Rhea
Silvia. They were also very independent and had many privileges that normal
women did not have. They could move around the city but had to be in a carriage.
The Vestales had a strict relationship with the
rex sacrorum and
flamen dialis as is shown in the verses of Ovid about their taking the
februae (lanas: woolen threads) from the king and the flamen. Their
relationship with the king is also apparent in the ritual phrase: "Vigilasne
rex, vigila!" by which they apostrophated him. The sacrality of their functions
is well compounded by Cicero's opinion that without them Rome could not exist as
it would not be able to keep contact with gods.
A peculiar duty of the vestals was the preparation and conservation of the
sacred salamoia
muries used for the savouring of the mola or
mola salsa,
dough to be spread on sacrificial victims, a procedure known as
immolation.
This dough too was prepared by them on fixed days. Theirs also the task of
preparing the
suffimen for the
Parilia.
Julia
Avita Mamaea (14 or 29 August after 180–235) was the second daughter of
Julia
Maesa, a powerful
Roman woman of
Syrian Arab
origin and Syrian noble
Julius Avitus. She was a niece of empress
Julia
Domna and
emperor
Septimius Severus and sister of
Julia Soaemias. She was born and raised in
Emesa (modern
Homs, Syria).
Julia's first husband was a former consul (whose name is unknown) who died.
Julia married as her second husband Syrian
Promagistrate
Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus. Julia bore Marcianus two children, a
daughter called Theoclia (little is known of her) and a son, Marcus Julius
Gessius Bassianus Alexianus, later emperor
Alexander Severus. Unlike her sister, Julia Mamaea was reported to be a
virtuous woman, never involved in scandals.
As a member of the Imperial Roman family, she watched closely the death of
her cousin
Caracalla and the ascent to power of her nephew
Elagabalus,
the oldest grandson of Julia Maesa and her choice to the throne. Eventually
Elagabalus and his mother Julia Soaemias proved incompetent rulers and favour
fell on Alexander, Julia's son. He became emperor in 222, following Elagabalus'
murder by the
Praetorian Guard. Julia and her mother became regents in the name of
Alexander, then 14 years old. Upon adulthood, Alexander confirmed his esteem for
his mother and named her consors imperii (imperial consort). It was in
this condition that she accompanied her son in his campaigns: a custom started
with
Julia Domna. Thus she travelled to the East, for the campaign against
Parthia and
to the Germania provinces. Julia Mamaea was with Alexander in Moguntiacum
(modern Mainz),
capital of
Germania Superior, when he was assassinated by his troops. She suffered the
same fate.
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