Rome - The Republic
| Moneyer: | L. Marcius Censorinus |
| Held Office: | 82 BC |
| Denomination: | AR Denarius |
| Mint: | Rome |
| Obverse: | Laureate head of Apollo right. |
| Reverse: | The satyr, Marsyas walking left, his right arm raised, carrying wine-skin over left shoulder, column with sculpture in the top, behind him "L•CENSOR" before. |
| Reference: | RCVM 281, RSC Marcia 24, RRC 363/1d |
| Weight: | 3.9 gms |
| Diameter: | 17.3 mm |
| Comment: | Marsyas - While playing the flute Athena saw her reflection in water, and disturbed by how her cheeks looked, puffed up while playing, threw away the instrument in disgust. Marsyas picked up the flute and since it had once been inspired by the breath of a goddess, it played beautifully on its own accord. Elated by his success, Marsyas challenged Apollo to a musical contest. For the prize, the victor could do what he pleased with the vanquished. The Muses were the umpires. Apollo played the cithara and Marsyas the flute. Only after Apollo added his voice to the music of his lyre was the contest decided in his favour. As a just punishment for the presumption of Marsyas, Apollo bound him to a tree and flayed him alive. His blood was the source of the river Marsyas, and Apollo hung up his skin, like a wine bag, in the cave out of which that river flows. |
Marcius Censorinus
C. Marcius Censorinus was the son of C. Marcius Rutilus, first plebian dictator (356 BC), was originally called Rutilus, and was the first member of the family who had the surname Censorinus. He was consul in 310 BC and conducted the war in Samnium. He was censor in 294 and a second time in 265, the only instance of a person holding the office twice. |
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