AR Julia Domna 

Editor: This is a silver coin featuring Julia Domna, the wife of Septimius Severus. One side shows her portrait, and the other depicts what looks like a chariot being pulled by lions. What can you tell me about the social and political context of this piece? Curator: Coins like this were powerful tools of imperial propaganda. Domna's image, circulated widely, reinforced her status and the dynasty's legitimacy. Consider how the lion chariot scene, perhaps referencing Cybele, was used to associate her with powerful divine figures, bolstering her authority in a male-dominated world. Editor: So, it’s less about a personal artistic expression and more about public image management? Curator: Precisely. These coins reveal how the Roman state used visual media to construct and disseminate carefully crafted messages about power, gender, and divine right. It invites us to analyze the role of art in shaping public perception and reinforcing social hierarchies. Editor: That's fascinating! It puts a completely different spin on something I initially saw as just a small coin.