Crawford 410/8

Moneyer: Quintus Pomponius Musa; 66 BC

Denomination: Denarius

Obverse:  Laureate head of Apollo right; star behind

Reverse:  Q•POMPONI MVSA; Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, standing front, head to left, pointing with a wand held in her right hand at a globe set on base

Mint: Rome

Reference: Crawford 410/8

Weight:  3,98 g

Notes: Urania was, in Greek mythology, the muse of astronomy and astrology, her attributes being the globe and compass. Like all the nine muses, Urania is a daughter of Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. Along with her sister Muses, she is considered to dwell at either Mount Helicon or Mount Parnassos. Nine Muses are usually named: Calliope (heroic or epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (lyric or love poetry), Euterpe (music or flutes), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (sacred poetry or mime), Terpsichore (dancing and choral song), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy).

Other than on the coins of this moneyer, the name Musa is unknown in Roman history associated with the Pomponia gens. The reference to Hercules Musagetes and the nine Muses seems obvious: it is an allusion to the name of the moneyer. It is probable that the representation of Hercules , as well as the depictions of the Muses on Q. Pomponius Musa's other denarii, are actual representations of the statuary which M. Fulvius Nobilior had installed in the temple he erected to the Muses in the Circus Flaminius in 179 BC.

Collection : 16 Roman Republic