Folia archeologica 10.
L. Barkóczi - A. Kerényi: Bronze medaillons of Thracian issue from Brigetio
Bronze médaillons of Tbracian issue from Brigetio 87 seat of the imperial cult and the provincial assembly is called рггротгои; This denomination is found also on the coins. As the seat of the imperial cult Philippopolis became also vetuxopo;. The distinctive title ve<uxópo; was in connection with the arranging of festivals. On the evidence of the madallions festival plays — mentioned by different names on those — were arranged in both cities. Such are Pythia, Heraclea, Actia 5 4 and — under Caracalla in Philippopolis — Alexandreia. 65 The latter plays were arranged by Caracalla in honour of Alexander the Great, chiefly to imitate him. The Emperor himself had won military victories in the East and by connecting his own Eastern success with those of Alexander the Great, through the games, he gave a stronger emphasis to his campaigns. The festivals in the provinces all served the glorification of the Emperor. The plays consisted of different competitions, at the end of which the winner obtained a prize. But in our case these festivals had a special significance. They were arranged as a celebration of the victories of the Emperor personally present, so the real winner was the Emperor, or more precisely through him the soldiers. The winners at the end of such festivals were rewarded by the Emperor. On the plays illustrated on our medallions the Emperor distributed the prizes to the real victors, the soldiers themselves at the end of the competition. In our view this circumstance makes us understand the fact that such medallions have turned up only at such places where troops were stationed that had taken part in the above mentioned Eastern wars and on their way back were staying some time in these Thracian cities. These medallions were awarded the victorious soldiers as a prize of their victory, so we can justly regard them as military distinstions. lászló barkôczi —andrâs kerényi 6 4 Reiscb, PW I. Sp. 835 and 1213. — Stein, A., op. cit. p. 105, note 3. 5 5 Pick, В., Inedita der Sammlung Mandl in Budapest. NZ 23 (1891) p. 65. — Dresse/, H., op. cit. p. 40. — Stein, A., op. cit. p. 105, note 4.
