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This ancient bronze represents the only design bearing the name of Claudia Neronis (died 63 AD), daughter of Emperor Nero and his second wife, Empress Poppaea. As Nero’s only child, Claudia promised the continuation of Augustus’ bloodline. Even though many Romans viewed her parents unfavorably, Claudia herself was well received. The Senate offered the infant their public prayers and commended her mother’s womb to the gods. Moreover, the Senate decreed the erection of golden statues of Fortuna (the goddess of fortune), called for the dedication of a new temple to Fecunditas (the goddess of fertility), and planned celebratory competitions mimicking those established by Augustus after his victory at Actium. According to Tacitus, Claudia was even hailed as Augusta – at a record young age – promulgating hope for Rome’s future.
Only a few months later, Claudia died, and the fanfare turned to mourning. Although depressing, the news was not particularly shocking, since about 30% of Rome’s infants failed to survive a single orbit around the sun. No wonder that the health and welfare of imperial children were vitally important in an Empire lacking established succession rules. It provided some measure of relief when, as Fecunditas would have it, Poppaea became pregnant again. However, as Fortuna would have it, calamity soon struck again. Ever since Claudia’s demise, an already unstable Nero fell deeper into personal madness; he reportedly kicked Poppaea in the abdomen during an imperial quarrel, resulting in the deaths of both his Empress and their unborn child.
Both Augustae Claudia and Poppaea were deified, joining an elite group of previously deceased Julio-Claudian dynasts. Evidence for divae worship can be found in the accounts of the Arval Brethren, an elite body of priests established by Rome’s eponymous founder, Romulus. To promote future success, the Arval Brethren made annual sacrifices to the gods, and their sacrifice records at that time list Claudia and Poppaea along with Augustus, Livia, and Claudius.
Besides the sacrifice records, Claudia’s elevation to divine status is also confirmed by numismatic evidence. On one side of this coin, a statue stands contrapossto within a circular hexastyle temple (note the six pillars) with a domed roof, encircled by the inscription DIVA CLAVDIA NER F. The figure may be an adult representation of Claudia, although some references attribute Emperor Nero. A less touted, but more logical, explanation is that the figure corresponds to Poppaea holding Claudia in her arms. The other side presents a similar motif, except the temple appears rectangular and distyle (note the two pillars). The statue inside the temple is seated and holds a cornucopia, and the inscription reads DIVA POPPAEA AVG. Little doubt remains the seated figure represents Poppaea. Also reasonably certain is the coin’s pedigree, struck circa 65 AD at Caesarea Paneas. That ancient city comprised the source of the Jordan river, associated since early antiquity with the Greek god Pan. At the time, Caesarea Paneas’ ruler was Herod Agrippa II, the seventh and last monarch descended from Herod the Great, and Rome’s last client king of Judaea. Herod Agrippa II was a staunch supporter of Rome, and he renamed Caesarea Paneas as Neronis. The honor, however, did not outlast Nero’s reign.
Similarly ephemeral was Claudia’s reign as goddess. Worship of both Nero’s daughter and his second wife rapidly fell out of fashion; neither goddess can be found in any sacrifice records after 66 AD. Upon Nero’s demise in 68 AD, Poppaea's apotheosis was officially annulled, and Claudia presumably suffered a similar divine downgrade.
Additional reading: R M Muich,
The Worship of Roman Divae: The Julio-Claudians to the Antonines, 2004.
Coin Details: JUDAEA, Roman Administration, Diva Poppaea and Diva Claudia, Æ (20mm, 3.53 g, 12h), Caesarea Panias mint, Struck circa 65 AD, NGC Grade: XF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Distyle temple set upon high podium, containing statue of Diva Poppaea seated left, holding cornucopia, DIVA POPPAEA AVG, Reverse: Hexastyle temple set upon high podium, containing statue (of Diva Claudia?) left on basis, DIVA CLAVDIA NER F, References: Meshorer, Caesarea pl. 7, H; Meshorer 354; Hendin 1270; RPC I 4846.