Medallions showing Commodus as Hercules

Illustration

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
by
published on 19 October 2016
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The Emperor Commodus wished to be identified with the god Hercules. On these medallions, he is depicted as Hercules, with a lion-skin headdress (upper image). He is also shown ploughing a ritual furrow to re-found Rome in his own name (lower image). Commodus became unpopular and was assassinated in 192 CE. Copper alloy medallions from Rome, Italy, circa 192 CE. The upper coin is from the Edward Wigan Collection while the lower one is from the Cracherode Collection. (The British Museum, London).

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

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APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2016, October 19). Medallions showing Commodus as Hercules. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5928/medallions-showing-commodus-as-hercules/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Medallions showing Commodus as Hercules." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 19, 2016. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/5928/medallions-showing-commodus-as-hercules/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Medallions showing Commodus as Hercules." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 19 Oct 2016. Web. 08 Mar 2025.

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