One of the most sacred greek name codes in the bible is known as chirho. Sometimes it is called the monogram of christ or chrismon or labarum. By the year 350, the chirho began to be used on christian. This site is the labor of love for tom and luanne wood tom because he loves to do the work and luanne for putting up with it. Constantine, divine emperor of the christian golden age offers a radical reassessment of constantine as an emperor, a pagan, and a christian.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence demonstrating that the chi rho was emblazoned on the helmets of some late roman soldiers. The chirho became associated with christianity even before constantines reign. The symbol of christ was also painted on the shields and helmets of some of constantines soldiers. It has recently been argued that the epigrammatist palladas of alexandria wrote during the late reign of constantine i, and that several of his poems support the evidence of eusebius of caesarea in his vita constantini concerning the character and policy of constantine i as a firmly committed christian, deeply hostile to traditional religion. Its first appearance is on a constantinian silver coin from c. The controversy of constantines conversion to christianity. Ancient roman coins of constantine i the great for sale roman emperor constantine the great, 307337 ad first christian emperor of rome the first christian roman emperor, constantine converted late into his reign. The constantinian era coins for sale buy the constantinian. However, past interpretations of the chirho have been limited on account of the assumption that there. Alexander maximinusicarinus diocletianlicinius family of constantine jovianzeno byzantine judeanbiblical specials books. Statement free delivery possible on eligible purchases. The sign has also been found on the coins of ptolemy iii 246222 bce. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence demonstrating that the chi rho was emblazoned on the helmet and shield of constantine as well as those of all of his soldiers. The sign that changed the world forum ancient coins.
Flavius gratianus 18 april23 may 359 25 august 383, known usually by the anglicised name gratian, was a western roman emperor from 375 to 383. Interestingly though, the chi rho symbol which played such an important role in establishing constantine as sole heir of the empire did not feature as a dominant motif on his coins. He executed his son crispus on trumpedup charges of incest and boiled his own wife, fausta, to death. Pdf methods for authenticating ancient bronze coins. The decision to use the chi rho or other apparently christian symbols as mintmarks on some of constantine s coins is dismissed by bruun p. I read somewhere that the chi rho was on the soldiers shields before constantine.
Coins with the chi rho, which was a combination of the initials of jesus christ in greek, the letters x and p. Chi and rho are the first two letters of christ in greek christos. Upon emerging victorious after the battle of the milvian bridge, constantine the great created the chirho from the first two letters of the greek word. To see the other pages of chi rho coins for sale, click these pages. While it was used very early by persecuted christians in the catacombs, when constantine i was struggling to become emperor, he used the symbol at the front of his armies and was victorious see below. During constantines travels, he also had a vision of apollo near marseilles. The chi rho is also known as the labarum, which is based on the latin word laureum, military standard. Chirho labarum, constantines cross, christogram, monogram.
The chirho symbol was also used by greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage. The book of acts in the bible contains numerous stories of how. Chi rho, chrismon, monogram of christ, or labarum early. Constantine, divine emperor of the christian golden age. He wasnt baptized as a christian until shortly before his death. Some accounts say that constantine saw the greek letters chi and rho in his dream and not the cross.
Flavius valerius constantinus, constantine the great, was the son of helena and the first tetrarchic ruler constantius i. Many of these coins were struck with pagan iconography, just before his conversion to christianity. Oct 05, 20 standards, similar to the original labarum in its essential features were supplied to all the legions, and the monogram was also engraved on the soldiers shields. As constantine had a position of power for nearly 30 years, his coinage was large, varied, and covered a multitude of denominations. The book examines in detail a wide variety of evidence, including literature, secular and religious architectural monuments, coins, sculpture, and other works of art. Constantinople ric vii 19 2 constantine i ae follis, constantinople. Media in category chi rho on coins the following 16 files are in this category, out of 16 total. Gratian 367ad ancient roman coin labarum chirho christ. After constantine s success at the milvian bridge, the chi rho became the official imperial insignia. Labarum of constantine i, displaying the chirho symbol above. The chirho is also known as the labarum, which is based on the latin word laureum, military standard. This symbol was said by this sign i shall conquer used by constantine i the great. Roman coins of constantine the great forum ancient coins. Sol, the sun god was the last of the pagan figures to disappear from his coinage.
Constantine is most famous for his conversion to christianity after the battle of the milvian bridge where he defeated emperor maxentius. Ancient bible coins biblical christianity jesus christ. An idea of some of the deviations in form of the standards furnished to different divisions of the army may be obtained from several coins of constantine s reign still preserved. Chirho coins roman page 6 constantine i to constantius ii. And, in 312 ce at the battle of the milvian bridge, constantines civil war with maxentius in 312 ce, constantine supposedly placed a christogram on the shields of his soldiers to ensure victory in battle. There are only four christian symbols on roman coins of the fourth century. The coins of constantine were minted in roughly 19 different locations throughout the roman empire. The vision of constantine is not a new phenomenon by any means. The pronunciation of those two letters was actually chi for x and rho for the p. The chi rho is used far more commonly than the cross or cross rho, but on one issue they are.
Emperor constantine, pulling on the cultural and political power of the ancient roman title of sol invictus, or conquering sun engaged in the practice of syncretism by tying old symbols to the religious developments of his time. Of approximately 1,363 coins of constantine i in ric vii, covering the period of 3337, roughly one percent might be classified as having christian symbols. On some coins, constantinopolis is holding what might be considered a cross scepter with a globe often topped with a smaller globe. How did the emperor constantine the great impact christianity. This is based on constantine s application of the chirho symbol to his military standard after receiving his famous vision before the battle of the milvian bridge in 312. The letters xp, or chirho, are the first two greek letters in the name christs and refer to being buried under christ. Coins and medallions minted during emperor constantine s reign also bore the chi rho. Catholic encyclopedia 19labarum wikisource, the free. Although coins from before the constantine era sometimes appear in uncleaned lots, they are so varied that producing a quick guide would be impossible. The first indications of christianity on roman coins occur under emperor constantine who ruled 307337 ad. In fact only a few, somewhat rare bronze coins minted in constantinople in about 327 ad feature this mark. On each side of it there are the alfa and omega initials which are the first and last letters of the greek alphabet, and a title of christ and god in the book of revelation. The stairway to heaven just as they had adorned coins of roman emperors over. The first instance of christian symbolism on a coin of constantine is a chirho.
Part 4 coins commonly found from before the constantine era. The origin of the chirho monogram as a christian symbol. One of the most sacred greek name codes in the bible is known as chi rho. Chi and rho represented the spelling of christ in greek.
An overview and a comprehensive list of copper coins to ad 364. According to a story recorded by ambrose and others, it included relics gathered in the holy land by his mother, empress helena. A case study of constantines pannonian cap coin conference paper pdf available june 2015 with 395 reads how we measure reads. Top of ring features one very identifiable symbol chi rho which is used by roman emperor constantine i. This may or may not have had christian significance, but constantine first used this symbolism in a. Buy knight templar masonic chi rho silver 925 alpha omega cross of constantine men ring. Christian symbolism on the coinage of constantine the great. Coins and medallions minted during emperor constantines reign also bore the chirho. After constantine, the chi rho became part of the official imperial insignia. Through his rule, many changes were introduced in coinage. Oct 11, 2019 this cross of light was the chirho, the labarum, a symbol derived of the greek letters chi x and rho r. The chi rho was used in hermetic alchemical texts to denote time.
Constantius ii ae3 soldier holding globe and spear. Constantine made only sparing use of the chirho on his coins, confining its use to a few scarce issues only. This is based on constantine s application of the chi rho symbol to his military standard after receiving his famous vision before the battle of the milvian bridge in 312. As a qualitycontrol mechanism, the coins struck by each of these mints were required to bear distinctive mintmarks, identifying their place of manufacture. I had been a us coin collector for almost 30 years, then several years ago found myself picking up an ancient commemorative issue of constantine the great at a gem and mineral show. The chi ro became an important christian symbol when adopted by the roman emperor constantine, representing the first two letters in the name of christ the chi, or ch, and rho, or r. Ancient roman coins of constantine i the great for sale. Two versions of constantines vision the bart ehrman blog. The chirho emblem can be viewed as the first christian cross as a prechristian symbol, the chirho signified good fortune. Christian symbolism on coins of constantine the great.
Palladas, constantine, and christianity the journal of. Coins and medallions minted during constantine s reign also bore the chi rho. In the mid 310s the first coins displaying the chirho were issued and already six. The coins issued as the sole roman emperor, his edicts, and his. The chi rho symbol he adopted is now displayed in churches throughout the world. In the year 326 he had both his wife fausta and his son crispus put to death. Spes pvblic, standard with three dots, chi rho above, serpent below, officina letter a in left field. Constantine is responsible for the gradual removal of pagan images from coins, although the coins which personified the values he wanted people to relate to his government were still issued. Constantine, roman imperial coinage reference, thumbnail. The emperor constantine the great a villain or a hero, or.
A vain, effeminate man who loved to adorn his body and the full length of his arms, with jewellery. The question about the sincerity of roman emperor constantines faith matters for two reasons. Many of the coins that survive today are bronze coins, although some technically were silver coins. Greek scribes used the symbol in the margin to mark passages they considered especially significant or relevant, with the letters chi and rho denoting chreston that means good. The helmet of constantine was a helmet or form of helmet worn by the roman emperor constantine the great, now lost, which featured in his imperial iconography. Prophetic interpretations of constantines labarum coin the.
816 1192 1559 160 930 1262 252 14 285 764 680 481 441 1388 349 1561 669 1471 404 1195 1314 451 692 496 1221 475 1576 227 268 1494 1382 1249 77 789 955 1461