Odzwierciedlenie koncepcji religijnych w mennictwie cesarza Probusa (276–282)

Abstract

The rule of Probus (276-282 A.D.) represented an important milestone on the road to stabilisation and consolidation of the Roman empire, weakened by the prolonged crisis. Accenting of the efforts made towards restoration of the splendour and position of the empire and the associated attempts to introduce innovative political may be dicerned in the religious propaganda of the Emperor Probus. Analysis of numismatic material indicates that he employed in his religious conceptions certain motifs from the set of inscriptions and graphic images known already from his predecessors, in particular calling on the programme of Aurelian (270-275 A.D.). Probus’ religious ideology has a defined character. The emperor gave preference in his coinage policy to the cult of Sol Invictus as the provileged Roman god and patron of its rulers. He propagated ideas concerning the concepts of absolute imperial power, cautiously presenting these innovative ideas on his coins, with inscriptions such as DEO ET DOMINO PROBO AVG, DEO ET DOMINO PROBO INVICTO AVG, SOLI INVICTO COMITI and SOLI INVICTO COMITI AVG. Taking into consideration the atmosphere and needs of the crisis epoch, Probus stressed a divinity of military character. However, these coins frequently also showed as an attribute an olive branch – the symbol of peace, the ensuring of this peace being one of the chief of Probus’ aims.