Romans View Of Earth As Sphere But What Was A Globe On Coins?

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,002
louisvillekyshop CCF Advertiser United States 1304 Posts	Posted 02/18/2021 8:43 pm You read a lot where people say Romans knew the earth was a sphere. But looking at this Constantius II what was that phoenix actually supposed to be standing on? Seems to be belted somehow. Looks more like a shield. CONSTANTIUS I (Caesar, 293-305). Follis. Alexandria. Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM / Δ / ALE. Prince standing left in military dress receiving small Victory on globe from Jupiter standing right, leaning on sceptre. RIC 48a. 21.5 mm, 3.08 grams Constantius II Æ Nummus. Siscia, AD 348-350. D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, peal-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / FEL TEMP REPARATIO, radiate phoenix standing right on globe; star in right field, SIS in exergue. RIC 129. 18 mm, 2.48 grams Edited by louisvillekyshop 02/18/2021 8:44 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Spence Moderator United States 34397 Posts	Posted 02/18/2021 8:56 pm @lks, I agree looks more like a shield than a globe (or globus as some references have it). Here is a wikipedia pic of a random plate with a pretty similar pattern on the shield at the bottom: "If you climb a good tree, you get a push." -----Ghanaian proverb "The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed." -----King Adz Report this Post to the Staff
louisvillekyshop CCF Advertiser United States 1304 Posts	Posted 02/18/2021 9:02 pm Spence: Begs the question, even when we see a globe now with no markings that a phoenix is standing on were they always thinking shield? Report this Post to the Staff
Victor Pillar of the Community United States 905 Posts	Posted 02/18/2021 9:18 pm it's a celestial globe, representing the entire universe. Report this Post to the Staff
Kushanshah Pillar of the Community United States 1554 Posts	Posted 02/19/2021 01:06 am Compare this coin of Domitian with his infant son seated on a globe surrounded by stars. Report this Post to the Staff
Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 02/19/2021 08:15 am Very nice coin!.....I have a Faustina younger showing the celestial globe.. And here's an article you might find interesting.. https://wgs.cc/celator/molnar.pdf Report this Post to the Staff
louisvillekyshop CCF Advertiser United States 1304 Posts	Posted 02/19/2021 09:13 am We I gather the artist is just trying to make the point this is a globe and not just a normal circle with the pattern. Report this Post to the Staff
MartiVltori Pillar of the Community United States 870 Posts	Posted 02/19/2021 10:25 am Not only did they know it was a sphere, the Greeks in 240 B.C. were able to measure the circumference of the earth. Report this Post to the Staff
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