罗马共和国晚期埃涅阿斯币(RRC 458/1)新解

Rethinking Caesar's Aeneas Coin(RRC 458/1)from the Late Roman Republic

学界主流认为埃涅阿斯币(RRC 458/1)制造于公元前47至前46年的北非,但论据较为薄弱。实际上,相关窖藏仅与恺撒从高卢南进意大利,继而远征非洲行军路线的前段重合,可以推测该币造于起兵地高卢,而非目的地北非。根据图像学分析,埃涅阿斯币的纹样以置换图像符号的方式暗示恺撒和维纳斯的联系,藉以提升个人威望,显然属于恺撒与庞培正面对抗前舆论战的手法,而非他掌控罗马政权后的公开宣传。这无疑佐证了埃涅阿斯币制作的较早系年——公元前49年前后。埃涅阿斯币及相关钱币的图像学研究,揭示出罗马由共和向帝制过渡期间政治认同由国家认同向家族认同、个人权威认同的转变,为理解当时的政治史提供了直观却微妙的视角。

It is often believed that Caesar's famous Aeneas coin(RRC 458/1)was issued in North Africa between 47 and 46 BC,but the evidence is relatively weak.The location of the relevant coin hoards only overlaps with the first part of Caesar's march from Gaul south to Italy and then to Africa.It can thus be speculated that the coin was made in Gaul,rather than in North Africa.The pattern of the Aeneas coin hints at the connection between Caesar and Venus in order to enhance personal prestige.This was likely method used by Caesar in the public opinion battle before and during his confrontation with Pompey,while not a blatant propaganda after taking control of Roman power as dictator.This consideration supports an earlier date of the Aeneas coin–being issued before or shortly after 49 BC.The iconographic study reveals the transformation of political identity that had been bound to aristocratic families under the guise of the republic interests but now depended more and more on individual commanders with their personal interests during Rome's transition from republican to imperial times.