Founding of Colonies

The Roman Concept of the Day: *Sulcus Primigenius or "Initial Furrow

Understanding the Initial Furrow

The term sulcus primigenius, meaning "initial furrow," has deep roots in Roman tradition. This concept is crucial for understanding the significance of land and foundation rituals in ancient Rome.

A Definition via Sextus Pompeius Festus

Sextus Pompeius Festus, a grammarian from around the 2nd century CE, provides valuable insights into this concept. His definitions help us grasp the cultural and historical importance of the sulcus primigenius in Roman society.

Plutarch Describes the Founding of Rome

Plutarch, a renowned historian, recounts the founding of Rome. He references Servius, a 4th-century Latin grammarian, who extensively quoted Cato the Elder. Cato's historical work, Origines, serves as a vital source for early Roman history. The passage in Virgil describes the establishment of the Trojan colony of Acesta in Sicily.

Les origines : (fragments) by Cato, Marcus Porcius, 234 B.C.-149 B.C. (Servius, ad Verg. Aen. 5.755 quoting Cato, Origines)

The Ritual of the First Furrow

The scene depicted on my latest coin of Augustus illustrates the sulcus primigenius. This ritual involved plowing the "first furrow" with a yoke of oxen. It marked the pomerium of a newly founded Roman colony. This motif is common on colonial coinages. Ancient authors link this rite to Rome’s foundation. Colonial issues used it to proclaim legal status and re-foundation.

Although this coin is not rare, with 150 specimens in RPC, it is a particularly nice example:

Macedonia, Alexandria, Troas (Conventus of Cyzicus), Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD Bronze circa 27 BC - 14 AD, AE (18.9 mm, 3.80g). Obv: AVG Bare head right Rev: Two priests plowing right (sulcus primigenius) Ref: RPC 1656. SNG Cop. 282 (older attribution).

Historical Context of the Coin

This coin dates back to Augustus’ reign. It belongs to a wave of Augustan colonial reorganizations and veteran settlements that followed the civil wars. The simple AVG legend and bare head align with provincial bronzes struck under or for the new regime.

Alexandria Troas, a significant Aegean port in the Troad, became a Roman colony under Augustus. It was styled Colonia Alexandria Augusta Troas. The foundation-plough reverse is thus programmatic for a city asserting its colonial status in the new Augustan order.

An older attribution to “Philippi” was revised by Burnett-Martin in 2017 to Alexandria Troas. This likely reflected similar logic since Philippi was also an Augustan colony. RPC now assigns this specific type to Alexandria Troas.

Mint Attribution and Ongoing Research

Determining the mint for this coin was a complex process. Michael Grant initially attributed these coins to Parium and later to Antioch in Pisidia. RPC attributed them to Philippi due to the number of finds there. However, Burnett and Martin reported two coins with the same motif and partial legends confirming Alexandria Troas. An open question remains regarding whether this might have been a regional coinage.

Conclusion: The Legacy of the Sulcus Primigenius

The sulcus primigenius remains a powerful symbol of Roman identity and cultural heritage. It represents the connection between land, law, and the foundation of new communities. This ritual continues to fascinate historians and numismatists alike, shedding light on the complexities of Roman society.

References

• Katsari–Mitchell, The Roman Colonies of Greece and Asia Minor (2008) [PDF]

• A. Burnett & K. Martin, “An Early Imperial Coinage from Alexandria Troas?” in O. Tekin (ed.), Second International Congress on the History of Money and Numismatics in the Mediterranean World, 5–8 January 2017, Antalya: Proceedings (Istanbul: AKMED / Koç University Suna & İnan Kıraç Research Center for Mediterranean Civilizations, 2018), pp. 245–252. ISBN 978‑605‑211‑669‑2.

• Smith, Christopher. 2017. “Servius, Cato the Elder and Virgil.” Mélanges de l’École française de Rome – Antiquité 129 (1): 85–100. https://doi.org/10.4000/mefra.4151