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Thessalonica AE24 Moushmov 6747 of Julia Domna

Julia Domna AE24 of Thessalonica. IOVLIA DOMNA CE, draped bust right / QECCALONIKEWN, distyle temple with figure of Hephaestus within, holding tongs and hammer.

Lot No.2801. VF and rare.

$ 450.

Sorry, this lot has been sold.

Representations of Hephaestus (or his Roman equivalent, Vulcan) on coins are very unusual.

Hephaestus was the god of the forge and of volcanoes. Physically ugly, with deformed feet, he created objects of beauty and utility, including Zeus' thunderbolts. He was a kindly, peace loving god who was called upon to mediate in disputes between the gods.
Most frequently, he is portrayed holding the tools of his trade, especially the blacksmith's hammer and tongs. Sometimes, he is surrounded by the Kabeiroi, the dwarflike blacksmith servants of the Mother Goddess who helped in his subterranean forge.
The temple depicted on this coin was most likely located well outside the city limits of Thessalonica, because ancient people greatly feared the devastation of uncontrolled fires!

Julia Domna was from a prominent Syrian family and at an early age had a soothsayer proclaim that she would marry an emperor. Septimius took this prediction seriously and married her. She was mother of Geta and Caracalla and served well in the role of Empress from 193 to 217 AD, when is said to have starved herself to death after Macrinus assumed the throne.