Denarius of Julia Domna c. 196 - 211

Editor: This is a Denarius of Julia Domna from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small, silver coin, and it feels powerful knowing it depicts a woman in a position of power. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: I see a carefully constructed representation of imperial power dynamics. Julia Domna, as wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, used coinage as a tool to project an image of stability and legitimacy. It's fascinating how gender intersects with political messaging here. Editor: So, the coin is more than just currency? Curator: Precisely. It’s propaganda, subtly embedding Domna into the narrative of Roman power. How does understanding this context shift your initial perception? Editor: I see it now as a statement of female influence in a male-dominated world. Curator: Exactly! It is a testament to the ways women negotiated power in ancient societies.