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Lucius Verus 161-169 AD Carrhae mint, Eclipse of 164 AD


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The battle of Ctesiphon in modern day Iraq occured in 164 AD. It was the capital of a revitalized Parthian Empire and was sacked by the Romans under the co emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. The eclipse of 164 AD is likely represented on this coin. Note the mint is in Carrhae where in 53 BC the Romans had a disastrous defeat to the Parthians. Ten years prior, the eclipse of 63 BC signified the Roman victory at Jerusalem. The defeat at Carrhae in 53 BC was by the hands of Parthian horse archers. They encircled seven Roman legions creating a dust cloud. The Romans were slaughtered in the dark from afar. The victory at Ctesiphon with the eclipse may be a memorial to the battle of Carrhae. Lindgren1556. Photo from Romae Aeternae Numismatics


 

2000 years ago the cross was a Roman symbol of death and terror. Jesus Christ transformed this symbol into a universal sign of God's love, hope and resurrection. Solar eclipse events are recorded in Roman mythology during the conception of Romulus and Remus by the war god Mars and during the foundation of the city of Rome. The solar eclipse to the Romans was a sign from their gods that war was upon the Earth. The solar eclipse symbol of the star/pellet within the crescent on Roman coins and legionary standards was also a sign of their god's approval of Roman domination over conquered lands. Fifteen hundred years later, the "Our Lady of Guadalupe" Icon was presented to the New World as an inverted Roman Legionary Standard. Jesus Christ changed these symbols of Roman domination and slavery into an everlasting sign of God's love and compassion. 

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