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Pointing at Pigs « on: March 06, 2016, 07:42:03 pm »







C. Sulpicius C.f.

Fouree denarius

standing facing each other, holding spears and pointing at sow which lies between them; in

, C·SVLPICI.



So that's out of the way. The coin is a disaster except for that amazing



Clem: There's a

Roscoe: You mean that right there? Yes, that is a



Higher



Of course, viewers don't need guidance to know there is a







There's something slightly absurd, such a solemn setting having a



The



http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=463272



That's a



So if you're ever caught wondering how an ancient artist might capture a sow in labor, well:







And by the way,



Swearing oaths on pigs opens up some as-yet untapped artistic opportunities. Here's David's legendary Oath of Horatii reimagined with some historical realism. Newest acquisition. First off it's a quixotic pleasure to hold a coin demonstrating that, if the goal of the serratus was preventing counterfeits , it wasn't too successful.C. Sulpicius C.f. Galba serratus 106. D·P·P Jugate , laureate heads of Dei Penates l. Rev. Two soldiersstanding facing each other, holding spears and pointing at sow which lies between them; in field above, D. In exergue , C·SVLPICI.So that's out of the way. The coin is a disaster except for that amazing pig on the reverse . Why are two guy with spears pointing at a pig ? One can only imagine what a fascinating conversation is unfolding.Clem: There's a pig Roscoe: You mean that right there? Yes, that is a pig Higher quality version: http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1103004 Of course, viewers don't need guidance to know there is a pig there; something else is going on. Separatist coins from a decade later during the Social War , depict numerous warriors swearing an oath over a pig that was about to be sacrificed.There's something slightly absurd, such a solemn setting having a pig as the focus, but it is sensible enough for the oath. The oath was along the lines of "if we fail in our resolve to fight against Rome , let us be smitten like this pig is about to be". Presumably the fellows on my fouree are also swearing some sort of oath, but have unhappily left their swords at home and have to point instead.The pig was a challenging object for ancient engravers. The best I've seen is this Vespasian That's a fine looking porker, a big contrast to mine which doesn't really capture the humble dignity of the everyday pig . According to Wikipedia (and when was Wikipedia ever wrong about anything?), this scene is depicting the foundation of the city of Lavinium as described in Virgil's Aeneid. There was a prophecy that a sow would cast thirty piglets under an oak tree and that's where a city should be founded. So that pig is indeed having a pretty challenging day. I think viewers had to know the sow was pregnant to understand the Lavinium reference. So the artist overcommunicated the fact.So if you're ever caught wondering how an ancient artist might capture a sow in labor, well:And by the way, Aeneas didn't get attached to that sow either. After it gave birth to all thirty piglets its reward was a swift sacrifice.Swearing oaths on pigs opens up some as-yet untapped artistic opportunities. Here's David's legendary Oath of Horatii reimagined with some historical realism.