Mythological and Religious Representations of Domitian Through Numismatics and the Poetry of Statius (81-96)

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the fabrication of the imperial image of Titus Flavius Domitian (81-96) through the Princeps’ association with divine and semi-divine figures. We employ a corpus that includes a set of coins minted in Rome during the fifteen years of Domitian’s reign, as well as excerpts from epic poems written by Publius Papinius Statius, the Achilleid and the Thebaid. We argue that such representations propagated the image of the emperor as endowed with pietas towards the gods and his family. In literature, Statius compared Domitian to the legendary warrior Achilles and gave precedence to the emperor in terms of virtues over the story of Achilles, besides constructing the character as an exemplum of military prowess and bearer of pietas, fundamental concepts in the context of the Principate and, consequently, the Flavian dynasty.