L. SEITIMICS SEVERUS.
He was born in Africa, and died during the war in Britain, in the 19th year of his reign.
His inscription was, L. SEPTIMIUS SF.VERUS Atc;. sometimes with the addition of PERTINAX. From his conquests he assumed the title of PAR-IA-flees INIAximus, and also of BRITANNICUS.
The bust of Severus.) (FELICITAS. SAECULI. 77ie head of a female between two youthful male heads. Plate CCCCXXII. Fig. 31.
The obverse of this coin exhibits thc portrait of Se verus ; the reverse that of his wife Julia Dornna, and her two sons, Caracalla and Geta, who both succeeded to the imperial dignity. Some of the coins of this de scription have also the inscription, JETERNIT. IMPERIL.
Div'. Marci Pri. Filius. P. M. Tn. P. III. Cos. II. P. P. S. C. Severus, holding the globe and the goddess of victory in his right hand, and a lance in his left, is crowned by Courage (Virtus) who carries a club. Plate CCCCXXII. Fig. 32.
Severus publicly held himself out as the son of M. Au relius, although there was no relationship whatever be tween him and the Antonines. On public inonuments, however, we find him designated as the son of :IL Rare lius, the brother of Conanodus, the grandson of Antoninus Pius, &c. He also gave his son Bassianus the name of Antoninus. All this, no doubt, WaS done from policy, For the tnemory of the Antonines was held sacred at Rome.
11I. Ann. ANTONINUS CARACALLA.
He was the eldest son of Severus and Julia Domna. When scarcely ten years old, SCYCrUS gave him the title of Augustus, and assumed him as co-regent. His
father intended that the two btothers, Caracalla and Geta, should be joint emperors ; but Caracalla murder ed his brother, and reigned- six years alone, when he was assassinated in Mesopotamia, at the instigation. of Macrinus.
His inscription is, AI. AuittLies. ANTONINUS. PIUS. FELIX. AUG. The name Caracalla never appears on public monuments. From his father he dcrived the titles of Parthicita Maximus, and hc ultimately assumed also that of Germanicus.
P. Al. Tit. P. XVII. Cos. 1111. P. P. 2Esculapius, holding in his right hand the serpent rod ; beside him stands the little Telesphorus, and at his feet lies the globe. Plate CCCCXX11. Fig. 33.
.4pollo holding a branch in his right hand, and leaning with his left on the lyre, whieh lies upon a tripod. Plate CCCCXX11. ri.4. 34.
Hercules holding a branch in his right hand, and in hie lift the club and lion's skin. Plate CCCCXX1I. Fig. 35.
These coins were struck during the latter years of his reign, and allude to the bad state of his health. Hence we find upon them the figures of such deities as wtre supposed to preside over medicine and health, viz. Escutapius. Apollo, Hercules, and Telesphorus.
Div°. ANTONIN°. MAGNO. Head of Caracalla.) (Con secratio. An eagle. Plate CCCCXXII. Fig. 36.
After his death, Caracalla, notwithstanding the base ness of his character, was placed among the gods by a decree of the senate. To this circumstance the above coin alludes.