Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AR denarius (20mm, 3.22 gm, 5h). NGC (photo certificate) Choice XF 4/5 - 1/5, edge chips, scuff. Tarraco, ca. 19 BC. CAESAR-AVGVSTVS, bare head of Augustus right / MARTIS-VLTORIS, domed round tetrastyle temple housing statue of Mars standing left, grounded aquila in right hand, trophy in left. RIC I 39a. Augustus keen on sanctifying Rome's divine favor and his own authority, he initiated a robust public works program in Rome. One significant edifice was the Temple of Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger), inaugurated in 2 BC within the Forum of Augustus. The temple was a votive offering following Augustus' vow made at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC to honor Mars, the God of War, should victory be secured against Julius Caesar's assassins, Brutus and Cassius. The temple not only stood as a religious edifice but also as a political symbol. It represented Rome's military might under Augustus' leadership, serving both as a tribute to his avenging of Caesar's murder and a reminder of the Pax Romana, the period of relative peace and stability across the empire inaugurated by Augustus' reign. The Temple of Mars Ultor became a fundamental element in Rome's architectural and political landscape, reflecting Augustus' strategic blend of religious tradition and political propaganda. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

To the auctioneer's website