Venus mit Waffen. Die Darstellungen und die Rolle der Göttin in der Münzpropaganda der Zeit der Soldatenkaiser (235–284 n. Chr.)

Abstract

There are many representational types of Venus in the coinage of the soldier emperors’ era (235–284/285). The goddess is depicted with various attributes, often with apple, sceptre, or with Cupid, however, in some cases she is with weapons (for example with helmet, shields, or even with spear) or with triumphal attributes (palm-branch, Victory), which coins surprisingly describe the goddess of love in connection with very unusual phenomena: military and victory. The present paper deals with the variety of these coin types in the above mentioned period and focuses on their tradition in the coinage of the principate, especially in the Severan era.