The Non-Christian Cross Part 7

CHAPTER X.

ROMAN COINS BEFORE CONSTANTINE.

Bearing in mind the matters mentioned in the two last chapters, let us now pa.s.s in review the coins struck by the Romans, and make a note of such features as may, directly or indirectly, bear upon the history of the cross.

The first cross we meet with on the coins in question, is upon one of Julius Caesar; who was appointed _Flamen Dialis_ B.C. 87, _Pontiff_ B.C. 74, Military Tribune B.C. 73, Quaestor B.C. 68, _Pontifex Maximus_ B.C. 63, and Dictator B.C. 49.

The cross in question consists of the name _C. Cossutius Maridia.n.u.s_ arranged as a cross of four equal arms. And it should be noted that it is admitted, even by such well-known authorities as Mr. C. W. King, M.A., that the name was so arranged out of compliment to the official in question _because his name had reference to the meridian sun_.[46]

Upon a coin struck by Caesar's heir, the almost equally famous Augustus (Consul B.C. 43, Emperor B.C. 29--A.C. 14), about twenty years before our era, we see a head of the Sun-G.o.d Bacchus upon one side; and on the reverse a man presenting a military standard, the banner of which is ornamented with a St. Andrew's cross.

Two other coins of the same reign and about the same date, have upon them representations of military standards bearing the same symbol.

Upon another coin struck by Augustus we see a crescent with a star or radiate sun within its horns, the ancient phallic symbol adopted by the followers of the prophet Muhammad centuries later.

A similar symbol occurs upon the coins of Hadrian (A.C. 117-138).

Upon two coins of Antoninus Pius (A.C. 138-161) we see the Sun-G.o.d Hercules plucking the Golden Apple from a tree around which the traditional serpent is coiled.

On another coin of the same reign the Sun-G.o.d Hercules can be seen holding a round object which admittedly represents the Golden Apple; that symbol both of the Sun-G.o.d as (1) the bi-s.e.xual Giver of Life and (2) the personification of the Male Principle, and of the G.o.ddess who represented (1) the Love of the two s.e.xes and (2) the Female Principle.

Upon another coin Jove holds a similar looking object.

Many coins issued in the name of Annia Galeria Faustina the wife of Antoninus Pius, and by Marcus Aurelius (A.C. 161-180), and in the name of his wife Annia Faustina, have upon them representations of Venus the G.o.ddess of Love holding a round object which is admittedly meant for the Golden Apple. The favourite legends are _Venus Victrix_, _Venus Felix_, and _Venus Genetrix_, and of phallic import; and in one instance the G.o.ddess of Love holds an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes as well as the phallic apple.

Other coins of Marcus Aurelius or his wife have upon them representations of Eternity as a female figure holding a round object.

In some cases the round object is surmounted by a Phoenix.

Upon a coin struck by Lucius Aurelius Verus (A.C. 160-169) that ruler is to be seen holding a round object surmounted by a Victory.

On the coins of Commodus (A.C. 180-192) sometimes Jove and sometimes the Emperor holds a small round object. A Victory in some cases surmounts it.

Venus holding the Golden Apple--that is, a round object which in such instances is admitted to have represented the Golden Apple--is to be seen upon many coins issued in the name of Lucilla, the sister of Commodus.

Upon coins issued by Caius Pescennius Niger a small round object surmounted by a Victory is to be seen in the hand of Jove. On a coin struck by Septimus Severus (A.C. 193-211) we see Rome represented as a female figure with a shield at her side marked with a cross.

Upon another coin we see the G.o.ddess of Love holding a round object admittedly meant for the Golden Apple, while a child is stationed at her feet. The legend is _Venus Genetrix_. Among the coins issued in the name of Julia Domna, the wife of the last named Emperor, are nearly a dozen varieties upon which Venus is represented as holding a round object. A crescent occurs upon the reverse in some instances.

Upon several coins of Caracalla (A.C. 211-217) we see that Emperor holding a small round object surmounted by a Victory; upon others he is to be seen holding a Victory only.

Various coins issued in the name of Fulvia Plantilla the wife of Caracalla, show us the G.o.ddess of Love holding a round object. The legends are _Venus Felix_ and _Venus Victrix_.

In the reign of Elagabalus or Heliogabalus (A.C. 218-222) a coin was struck on which we see the G.o.ddess Astarte, Ashtoreth, Ishtar, or Venus, holding a cross.

Venus holding a round object is to be seen upon many coins issued in the names of Soaemias the mother of Elagabalus, his wife Julia Aquilia Severa, Julia Mamma the mother of Alexander Severus, and his wife Orbiana.

On a coin of the Emperor Decius (A.C. 249-251) struck at Maeonia, we meet with the so-called "Monogram of Christ" upon a Roman coin in the form {image "monogram3.gif"} for the first time.

Upon a coin of Trebonia.n.u.s Gallus (A.C. 251-254) Eternity is represented as a female holding a small round object.

On another coin of this reign we see a Phoenix instead of a Victory upon the round object held by the Emperor.

Many of the coins of ancient Rome acclaim the Sun-G.o.d as the Saviour, and upon a coin issued by Gallienus (A.C. 254-268) we see the Sun-G.o.d Apollo holding a cross.

Upon a coin issued by the younger Valerian we see the Sun-G.o.d holding a small round object.

A coin struck by Tetricus (A.C. 267-264) has upon its reverse a representation of the Sun-G.o.d holding a round object, while in the field near the Sun-G.o.d is a cross.

On a coin issued by Claudius II. we see the Sun-G.o.d Hercules holding a round object admittedly meant for the Golden Apple.

Upon a coin issued by Aurelia.n.u.s we see the Sun-G.o.d holding a round object surmounted by a crescent.

On a coin issued by Vabalathus we see the Sun-G.o.d Hercules holding a round object admittedly representing the Golden Apple.

Upon a coin of Numeria.n.u.s (A.C. 283-284) we see the G.o.ddess of Love holding a round object surmounted by a Victory. Such instances as this should be specially noted, as nothing distinguishes the round objects so surmounted from those held by Venus which admittedly represent the Golden Apple, and the present fashion of our symbol the Coronation Orb or Imperial Apple is due to the fact that a century later Theodosius II. Emperor of Constantinople started the idea of subst.i.tuting a cross for the Victory.

Upon several coins of Carinus (A.C. 282-284) we see the Sun-G.o.d holding a small round object.

On other coins of this reign Eternity appears as a female holding a small round object surmounted by a Phoenix.

Upon the coins issued in the name of Magnia Urbica, wife of Carinus, on which we see Venus holding a small round object which admittedly represented the Golden Apple, the Crescent frequently accompanies the representations of the G.o.ddess of Love.

On coins issued by Diocletian (A.C. 284-305) we see both Jove and the Sun-G.o.d holding a small round object; like the Emperor himself. A Victory in some cases surmounts it.

The Sun-G.o.d Hercules holding a round object which admittedly signified the Golden Apple is to be seen on other coins issued during this reign.

Among the coins issued by Diocletian's co-Emperor Maximian, is one bearing a representation of the Sun-G.o.d Hercules in the Garden of the Hesperides near the Tree encircled by the Serpent he slew. The Sun-G.o.d holds a round object representing a Golden Apple plucked from the Tree in question.

On the reverse of another coin bearing the names both of Jove the All-Father and Hercules the Sun-G.o.d, we see the latter represented as holding a round object, admittedly meant for the Golden Apple.

In some cases where Hercules holds the Golden Apple-for instance, upon a coin bearing the legend _Herculi invicto Aug_.--the Golden Apple is surmounted by a Victory.

A coin issued by Constantius Chlorus, the ruler of Gaul and father of Constantine the Great, represents the Sun-G.o.d Hercules in the act of plucking a Golden Apple from the famous Tree.

A coin issued in the joint names of Galerius and Constantius Chlorus, bearing the legend _Genio Populi Romani_, has in the field on the reverse side a cross, which takes the place occupied upon otherwise similar coins by a star-like object not improbably representing the sun.

Such are the more striking features of the evidence which can be obtained from the Roman coins issued prior to the accession of Constantine to the throne of Gaul.

The reader will have seen that the symbol of the cross occurs several times upon the coins in question, and in almost if not quite every instance in connection with the Sun-G.o.d.

The fact that upon a coin of Julius Caesar, and therefore before our era, a cross admittedly occurs as a symbol of the sun, will also have been remarked.

It will also have been noticed in how very large a number of cases the round symbol which was a precursor of our Coronation Orb admittedly signified the Golden Apple, and therefore was of phallic import.

Another point which the reader cannot very well fail to bear in mind, is that where the G.o.ddess of Love, as the representative of the s.e.x whose felicity lies in motherhood or the victorious production of life, is seen carrying the symbol in question, the surrounding legend is Venus _Genetrix_, or _Victrix_, or _Felix_, or some variation or other of the same; and that the said legends are obviously phallic in signification.

If we also keep before us the fact that the Golden Apple whether held by the Sun-G.o.d or his complement the G.o.ddess of Love, was at times surmounted by the figure of Victory for which Christian Emperors gradually and only gradually subst.i.tuted the figure of the cross, it is curious to note that in early Christian representations of the Christ he is often to be seen with the Apple or forbidden fruit of the Tree of Life or of the knowledge of good and evil.

When the Christ is in such cases depicted as a youth, the phallic apple is usually to be seen lying near him; but when the Christ is represented as a man, it is placed in his hand.