Silver Denarius of L. Titurius f. Sabinus, Rome - Latium
Title
Silver Denarius of L. Titurius f. Sabinus, Rome - Latium
Subject
Coinage--Rome
Description
Obv. bust of King Tatius r.; behind SABI[N]; border of dots
Rev. Sabine women being carried off; below L TITVRI; border of dots
Weight: 3.7g
Diameter: 18.4mm
Titus Tatius was a legendary Sabine king who ruled alongside Romulus at the founding of the kingdom of Rome, allegedly in 753 BCE. Romulus, whose new kingdom consisted of mainly men, realized that his city needed women to prosper and continue. While the nearby Sabines were in Rome for a government meeting, Romulus and his men carried off the Sabine women and took them as their wives. In turn, the Sabine men attacked, and as the story goes after the Battle of Lacius Curtius in what would become the Roman Forum, the Sabine women intervened, not wanting to pick sides between their fathers and their husbands. A treaty was made and it was established that Romulus and Tatius would rule jointly. This lasted only a few years, when Tatius was killed by a mob for allowing a crime against visitors from the nearby city of Laurentum to go unpunished. Many altars and cults of gods are said to have been founded by Tatius, including Flora, Saturn, Sol, and the Lares.
Rev. Sabine women being carried off; below L TITVRI; border of dots
Weight: 3.7g
Diameter: 18.4mm
Titus Tatius was a legendary Sabine king who ruled alongside Romulus at the founding of the kingdom of Rome, allegedly in 753 BCE. Romulus, whose new kingdom consisted of mainly men, realized that his city needed women to prosper and continue. While the nearby Sabines were in Rome for a government meeting, Romulus and his men carried off the Sabine women and took them as their wives. In turn, the Sabine men attacked, and as the story goes after the Battle of Lacius Curtius in what would become the Roman Forum, the Sabine women intervened, not wanting to pick sides between their fathers and their husbands. A treaty was made and it was established that Romulus and Tatius would rule jointly. This lasted only a few years, when Tatius was killed by a mob for allowing a crime against visitors from the nearby city of Laurentum to go unpunished. Many altars and cults of gods are said to have been founded by Tatius, including Flora, Saturn, Sol, and the Lares.
Date
89/88 BCE
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