The ‘Supplicatio’ of Titus and Domitian: Atonement or Celebration? By Michael Gasvoda and David S. Michaels The year AD 79 would prove to be one of the most event-filled in Roman history. On June 23, only a decade after the disruption of the Roman civil war, the emperor Vespasian died, leaving behind two sons, Titus and Domitian. Titus would succeed his father to the throne, with the younger Domitian continuing to serve as Caesar, or heir apparent. Although the rule of Titus is mostly described as positive, being one of Seutonius’ “good Emperors,” his short reign was not without turmoil. Just a few months into his reign (the date being uncertain but most likely in the autumn of AD 79), Mount Vesuvius erupted in violent fashion, devastating the communities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and covering a host of other properties, farms and estates, in volcanic ash and lava. Thousands died in horrible ways. Many of the lost properties were owned by elite Romans for use as summer villas and retreats. Titus would take personal interest in the Vesuvius eruption, traveling twice to the area to support relief efforts, while donating some of his own wealth for the cause. During Titus’ second visit to the Bay of Naples (AD 80), a major fire broke out in Rome. Although this fire wasn’t as catastrophic as Nero’s inferno of AD 64, it nonetheless burned for three days and destroyed or damaged significant structures, including the Pantheon, Temple of Jupiter, parts of the Theatre of Pompey, and other public and private buildings. Upon Titus’ return to Rome, he again aided in the recovery and repair efforts with more of his own personal wealth contributed. According to Suetonius, before the flames had even died away, a pestilence broke out in Rome that took still more lives, although the nature of this disease remains a mystery. Perhaps a deadly toxin was triggered by the heat of the flames, or the blaze unleashed disease-ridden vermin on the populace? So, the 12 months from mid-AD 79 to AD 80 would witness the death of a beloved emperor, the volcanic destruction of several Italian cities, a terrible fire in Rome, and a mysterious and deadly epidemic. Why wouldn’t the Roman people begin to wonder if their gods were angry with them? At any rate, Romans did not blame their young emperor for these disasters – indeed his biographer Suetonius calls Titus the “delight and darling of the human race” based largely on his tireless acts of compassion during this time of need. The year AD 80 would, however, have one important positive event as well. The Colosseum was completed and opened with 100 days of games. Perhaps this huge upbeat festival was just what the Romans needed after such a difficult 12 months! Titus pulled out all the stops to give the public a grand show: Gladiatorial games, beast fights, mock naval battles, and mass giveaways of food, cash and prizes were the order of the day. By all accounts it was a spectacular success.
Still, given how the Flavians (Vespasian, Titus and Domitian) took every advantage of coinage to propagate their victorious Jewish war campaign in the early AD 70s, it is most unusual that the Colosseum was opened with seemingly minimal fanfare as reflected on the coinage of the day. There are a few obvious references to the grand event – an impressive bronze sestertius with an overhead view of the Colosseum and a gold aureus and silver denarius RIC II.1 114 (Aureus) Reverse: type depicting an elephant. But these were not struck in great numbers, to Elephant walking left (592520) judge by the relative scarcity of surviving specimens. 4