Description:
Obverse: Portrait head of Faustina the Elder facing right with inscription: DIVA AVGVSTA / DIVAE FAVSTINA. Reverse: the emperor Antoninus Pius and Faustina seated on low stools, facing one another, clasping hands; inscription: DIVA FAVSTIN / A DIV / S ANTONINVS; below, S C.

Label Text:
This mother and daughter pair depicts the Empress Faustina the Elder (ca. 100-141) and the youthful Faustina the Younger (ca. 125/130-175). The daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius, Annia Galeria Faustina Minore became an imperial consort like her mother when she married Marcus Aurelius on 13 May 145 CE. Both women were honored by their devoted husbands following their deaths and elevated to the status of diva, or goddess. Likenesses such as these adorned temples, households, and coins, and inspired the worship of Roman women through their virtuous attributes and beauty.

(2013)

Tags:
ancient; archaeology

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+1998.15

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.