PHILIP I "THE ARAB" (244-249)

"Ludi Saeculares – The Secular Games" In April 248 CE, Philip the Arab combined the celebration of Rome’s 1000th anniversary (marked from April 21, 753 BCE, when Romulus delineated the city’s boundaries, the pomerium) with the Ludi Saeculares. The festivities were highlighted by spectacular games and theatrical performances. Over 1,000 gladiators and hundreds of exotic animals, including hippopotamuses, leopards, lions, giraffes, and even a rhinoceros, perished in the Colosseum.

During this period, Philip elevated his son to the rank of co-augustus. A series of coins was minted to commemorate the games, featuring reverses that depicted the animals showcased in the spectacles. Among these, a denarius depicting a lion on its reverse serves as a notable example.