Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 207

Curator: The artwork before us is a denarius of Septimius Severus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's incredible how such a small object can feel so monumental; the portrait has a stoic presence. Curator: Indeed. The material itself, likely silver, lends a certain gravity. The effigy, meticulously crafted, presents Severus in profile, crowned with laurel. Editor: The cracks and wear tell a story, don't they? Who held this, and what did it mean to them, at a time of brutal imperial control? It’s a tangible link to an era of power and oppression. Curator: Precisely. The obverse typically displays a deity, further reinforcing the interwoven nature of power and divinity. Observe the relief, the detail in such a compact space. Editor: I find myself contemplating the legacy of such a ruler—how power is both asserted and remembered, etched into material culture. Curator: A poignant reminder of history's layered complexities, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. It prompts reflections on power dynamics then and now.