Visual Association of Faustina the Elder and Juno

Visual Association of Faustina the Elder and Juno
As head of the Roman pantheon, Jupiter and Juno were often associated with the Emperor
and Empress, their counterparts as head of the Roman State. This association became
increasingly popular in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE.
On coinage, Faustina the Elder was associated with Juno through reverses depicting the
attributes of Juno wielded by the goddess herself, or on their own.
Coins of Faustina the Elder and Juno
1
2
Description
IVNONI
REGINAE
Juno veiled and
draped, standing,
holding a patera
and sceptre. A
peacock stands at
her feet.
Importance
AVGVSTA
Juno veiled and
draped, seated and
holding a sceptre in
her left hand.
By replacing Juno’s name
on the reverse of this
coin with Faustina’s title
of Augusta the empress is
further associated with
Juno.
AVGVSTA
Throne, against
which rests sceptre.
Below sits a
peacock.
3
Displays association with
Juno. One side is a
portrait of the empress
the other the goddess,
Juno Regina, her divine
counterpart.
On this coin Juno is not
depicted, however the
attributes affiliated with
her are. Here they are
pictured alongside the
title of the empress more
closely associating Juno
and Faustina.
©From Stone to Screen
Visual Association of Faustina the Elder and Faustina
the Younger
These coins with portraits of Faustina the Elder and Faustina the Younger show the
similarities in the depiction of these women.
Faustina the Elder
Both mother and daughter have waved front
sections of hair pulled back showing the ear.
These coins also depict intricately woven coils
on top of Faustina the Elder’s head, and a
similar style sitting lower on the back of Faustina
the Younger’s head.
Faustina the Younger
These portraits show the top of the stola
and the palla draped over the shoulders.
These conservative articles of clothing
indicated a woman’s status, and emphasized
her pudicitia.
This resemblance or visual association between Faustina the Elder and Faustina the Younger
in Imperial promotion served to link them in the minds of the public.
©From Stone to Screen
Association through Coin Reverses: Faustina the Elder and Faustina the
Younger
This association went further than similarities in portraiture, the images selected for the
reverses—or “tails” of a coin—were often the same. Some of the most common were: Juno,
Ceres, Vesta, and Juno’s peacock.
IVNONI
REGINAE
Juno Regina holding
a scepter and patera.
A peacock stands at
her feet.
CERES
Ceres holding a lit torch
and two ears of corn.
VESTA
Vesta seated holding
palladium in right
hand and sceptre in
left.
COSECRATIO
Peacock standing
with tail spread.
Visual association had various effects:
-To further solidify the Antonines as a dynasty.
-To elevate the status of the Imperial family by association with deified predecessors.
- To associate Faustina the Younger with the positive virtues of her mother.
- To justify the succession of Marcus Aurelius—the adopted son of Faustina the Elder and
Antoninus Pius.
-To link Marcus Aurelius’ rule to the peaceful reign of Antoninus Pius.
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