Eleonora S. MURONI (Dipartimento di Scienze Umanistiche e Sociali,Università degli studi di Sassari)
PERSISTENZE E SUGGESTIONI: SOL INVICTUS NELL’ETÀ DI COSTANTINO
Keywords: religion, coinage, panegyric, inscriptions.
Abstract: Persistence and suggestions: Sol Invictus in the Constantinian age. The relationship between Constantine and the Sun, likely deve-loped during the troubled beginnings of his Empire within the tetrarchy tradition, becomes central probably after 310, under the emperor’s own initiative, and remains dominant until the final clash with Licinius. In the years following the Battle of Adrianople, the connection with the solar deity seems to fade on coins but continues to appear sporadically on inscriptions and statues, testifying to how deeply this message had already taken root among the inhabitants of the empire.