Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 197

Editor: This is a Denarius coin of Septimius Severus at the Harvard Art Museums, depicting what looks like an elephant. What significance do you see in the imagery presented? Curator: The elephant, particularly on Roman coinage, carries a powerful symbolic weight. It evokes ideas of exotic conquest, military might, and imperial reach. Think of Hannibal crossing the Alps. Editor: So, the elephant symbolizes power and domination in this context? Curator: Precisely. It’s a visual echo of Rome’s expanding influence, a deliberate attempt to link Septimius Severus with notions of strength, exoticism and perhaps even a touch of the divine, given the elephant's associations in some cultures. What feelings does it stir in you? Editor: I see. It’s fascinating how a single image can hold so much cultural and historical meaning. Thanks!