Roman Empire - Sestertius of Otacilia Severa, wife of
Otacilia Severa (wife of Philipus I, ), Sestertius, Rome, 248 AD, AE ( g, 29 mm), Marcia Otacil Severa Avg, bust with diadem to the right, Reverse Pietas Avgg, Pietas to the left, offering over an altar with perfume box in her hand, S β C. RIC 208a.Otacilia Severa was the wife of Philippus I. When the thenemperor, Gordianus III was murdered, her husband became emperor.Philippus and Otacilia are considered to be the first Christian emperor couple. When Philippus died in battle, her son Philippus II was slain by the Praetorian Guard and she herself was spared. Philippus I, the Arab, was head of the Praetorian guard under Gordianus III. He was responsible for the food transport for the Roman legions. He sabotaged it to put Gordianusin a bad light, and hungry,mutinous soldiers killed the emperor. Subsequently, Philippus declared himself emperor, which was endorsed by the Senate. When he sent Trajan Decius to the Danube region to crush a rebellion, he was so successful that his troops declared him emperor. Philippus did not accept this and entered into the fight, which meant his downfall. Read More