The cult statue of Saturn in the temple traditionally had woolen bonds tied around his feet, but during Saturnalia these bonds were loosened to symbolize the god’s liberation. On the first day of the festivities, a young pig would often be publicly sacrificed at the temple, which was located in the northwest corner of the Roman Forum. to replace an earlier temple, the Temple of Saturn in Rome served as the ceremonial center of later Saturnalia celebrations. READ MORE: 10 Innovations That Built Ancient Rome Temple of Saturn and Other Saturnalia CustomsĬonstructed in the fourth century A.D. Saturnalia was by far the jolliest Roman holiday the Roman poet Catullus famously described it as “the best of times.” So riotous were the festivities that the Roman author Pliny reportedly built a soundproof room so that he could work during the raucous celebrations. On the last day of Saturnalia celebrations, known as the Sigillaria, many Romans gave their friends and loved ones small terracotta figurines known as signillaria, which may have referred back to older celebrations involving human sacrifice. Wax taper candles called cerei were common gifts during Saturnalia, to signify light returning after the solstice. Instead of working, Romans spent Saturnalia gambling, singing, playing music, feasting, socializing and giving each other gifts. Even enslaved people did not have to work during Saturnalia, but were allowed to participate in the festivities in some cases, they sat at the head of the table while their masters served them. People decorated their homes with wreaths and other greenery, and shed their traditional togas in favor of colorful clothes known as synthesis. Schools and courts of law closed, and the normal social patterns were suspended. Since the early part of the 2000s, the coin has been part of a private Arizona private holding, dubbed The Rubicon Collection (Julius Caesar's military action of crossing the Rubicon river to invade Rome coined phrase for a point of no return) for Heritage's September 7 auction.WATCH: The Winter Solstice How the Romans Celebrated Saturnaliaĭuring Saturnalia, work and business came to a halt. The reverse depicts a dome-shaped liberty cap, flanked by two drawn daggers, and the Latin inscription EID MAR. The dime-sized silver coin depicts the head of Marcus Junius Brutus, one of the ringleaders of the assassination plot, on its obverse. ![]() The event celebrated on the coin, of course, is the assassination of Julius Caesar on the 'Ides of March', March 15, 44 BC. As an important historic coin with a distinguished pedigree, it is one of the most desirable collectible of any kind that one could ever imagine acquiring. It was also in the world-famous Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection, sold in 1990, with an auction pedigree going back to the early 1900s. The reverse is quite explicit in recalling the deed Not only is this one of the finest examples known of this historic rarity, this 'Ides of March' denarius once resided in the collections of well-known Hollywood producer Sy Weintraub and the actor Peter Weller. Should the coin reach its pre-auction estimate of $500,000, it will establish a record price for a Roman silver coin. This makes the coin a particularly strong alternative investment. ![]() His autograph was one of the first to be collected, and would be one of the most valuable in the world if any examples were found. Julius Caesar remains well remembered, regardless of whether people know him through Shakespeare's play or Asterix books. The 'Ides of March' denarius, struck in 42 B.C., is the only Roman coin to openly celebrate an act of murder, the only Roman coin to mention a specific date and one of the very few ancient coins to enter popular imagination. ![]() The coin will be on view at Heritage's Beverly Hills offices, 9478 West Olympic Blvd., Friday, September 2, with a special Roman-themed reception held on Saturday, September 3, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.īrutus's head appears on the Ides of March coin obverse It will return to its longtime California home this summer for display before heading to the auction block as part of Heritage Auctions' September 7 Long Beach Signature World & Ancient Coins Auction at the Long Beach Numismatic Expo, where it is expected to bring over $500,000. The most famous ancient coin in existence must surely be the 'Ides of March' silver denarius struck by Julius Caesar's assassin Marcus Brutus, celebrating the infamous deed.
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