Editing Sol Invictus (section)

== Sol and later Roman Emperors ==
Berrens (2004){{sfn|Berrens|2004}} deals with coin-evidence of Imperial connection to the Solar cult. Sol is depicted sporadically on imperial coins in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, then more frequently from [[Septimius Severus]] onwards until AD 325–326. {{sc|Sol Invictus}} appears on coin legends from AD 261, well before the reign of Aurelian.{{efn|The coins issued under Elagabalus do not use {{sc|invictus}} for Roman Sol, nor for the Emesan Solar deity Elagabalus.{{sfn|Berrens|2004}} }}

{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
| [[File:Licinius315 Soli Invicto Comiti.JPG|thumb|Identical reverse as the coin of Constantine I but with Emperor [[Licinius]] on head]]
| [[File:ProbusCoin.jpg|thumb|Coin of Emperor [[Marcus Aurelius Probus|Probus]], c. 280, with ''Sol Invictus'' riding a [[quadriga]], with legend {{sc|SOLI INVICTO}}, "to the Unconquered Sun": the Emperor (at left) wears a radiated [[solar crown]], worn also by the god on the [[obverse]]]]
| [[File:Antoninianus-Aurelianus-Palmyra-s3262.jpg|thumb|[[Aurelian]] in his radiate crown, on a silvered bronze coin struck at Rome, 274–275]]
|}

Connections between the imperial [[radiate crown]] and the cult of Sol are postulated. [[Augustus]] was posthumously depicted with radiate crown, as were living emperors from [[Nero]] (after AD 65) to [[Constantine I|Constantine]]. Some modern scholarship interprets the imperial radiate crown as a divine, solar association rather than an overt symbol of Sol; Bergmann calls it a pseudo-object designed to disguise the divine and solar connotations that would otherwise be politically controversial<ref name=Bergmann-1998/>{{rp|pages=121–123}}<ref name=Hijmans-2003-2006/>{{sfn|Hijmans|2009|pp=80–84, 509–548}} but there is broad agreement that coin-images showing the imperial radiate crown are stylistically distinct from those of the solar crown of rays; the imperial radiate crown is depicted as a real object rather than as symbolic light.<ref name=Bergmann-1998/>{{rp|pages=116–117}}{{sfn|Hijmans|2009|pp=82–83}}

Hijmans argues that the Imperial radiate crown represents the honorary wreath awarded to [[Augustus]], perhaps posthumously, to commemorate his victory at the [[Battle of Actium]]; he points out that henceforth, living emperors were depicted with radiate crowns, but state ''divi'' were not. Hijmans believes this implies that the radiate crown of living emperors is a symbolic link to Augustus. His successors automatically inherited (or sometimes acquired) the same offices and honours due to Octavian as "saviour of the Republic" through his victory at Actium, piously attributed to [[Apollo]]-[[Helios]].

Furthermore, radiate crowns were not solely worn by emperors: The wreaths awarded to victors at the [[Actia|Actian Games]] were radiate.{{efn|{{harvnb|Hijmans|2009|pp=509–548}}. A mosaic floor in the Baths of the Porta Marina at Ostia depicts a radiate victory crown on a table as well as a victorious competitor wearing one.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ostia-antica.org/regio4/10/10-1.htm |title=Regio IV – Insula X – Terme di Porta Marina (IV, X, 1–2) |access-date=2009-11-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109062717/http://www.ostia-antica.org/regio4/10/10-1.htm |archive-date=2008-11-09 }}</ref>}}