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Nymphaeum              Let the entire page load before clicking on any of the "obverse" links


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Caracalla, 196 - 217 AD
AE 34 Medallion of Tarsus, Cilicia

Laureate cuirassed bust right / Nymphaeum containing fountains, central arch surmounted by Scylia (female sea monster) and a quadriga of elephants, both sides surmounted by a man leading a quadriga of horses.

Comment- The Romans attached great importance to the water supply of their cities, and established extensive water systems. Nymphaeums were a prominent architectural feature of a city. These tall monumental fountains whose water was supplied by conduits provided a decorative feature in public squares, being adorned with columns and statues, and generaly being made of marble. (Double-strike evident on both sides)



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Macrinus, 217 - 218 AD
AE 27 of Nicopolis, Moesia Inferior

Laureate cuirassed bust right / Nymphaeum at Nicopolis

Comment- The Nymphaeum at Nicopolis was a semi-circular building with two stories of colonnaded porticos, all covered by a flat roof or a removable awning, with a colonnaded forecourt fronting a body of water. (CNG description)



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L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus w/ L. Scribonius Libo, 62 BC
Silver Denarius

Head of Concord right / Puteal Scribonianum decorated with hammer, lyres, and garland

Comment- A puteal is an enclosure surrounding the opening of a well, to protect people from falling into it. It was the practice to surround a sacred place with an enclosure, and such enclosures that bore great resemblance to a puteal were called by this name. It is commonly called a "well-head", however, this small enclosure in the Roman Forum was built to protect a sacred spot said to have been struck by lightning. The enclosure was rebuilt and dedicated by L. Scribonius Libo, whose job it was to examine the condition of sacred places. The remains of the Puteal Scribonianum were discovered during excavations in the Forum in 1950. An interesting tidbit of ancient history!