#annona

spacegoats

I've had a concept for my take on an Annona design for a few years now, but everything I'd drawn or MOC modeled for it was bits and pieces, not the whole. So, figured I should finally try to put everything I have so far together into a proper overview, see how it looks. I didn't focus too hard on making it good, over just making it.

In the ancient Roman world, olive oil was far more than a simple cooking ingredient. It was a cornerstone of civilization.

Used for lighting lamps, as a base for perfumes and medicines, and as a fundamental foodstuff, it permeated every level of society.

The Roman diet relied heavily on it, and it was a key item in the "annona", the state-sponsored dole for citizens.

Its economic importance was immense. Vast olive groves, particularly in provinces like Hispania and North Africa, fueled a massive trade network.

Amphorae filled with oil were shipped across the Mediterranean, with Monte Testaccio in Rome — a hill made of broken oil amphorae — standing as a silent testament to the scale of this commerce.

Olive oil also held profound cultural and social significance. It was used in religious rituals, for personal hygiene in baths, and as a prize for victorious athletes.

The quality of oil one consumed was a direct indicator of social status.

Rare Dupondius d’Antonin le Pieux – Annona – RIC 898 – Belle Pièce de collection. 

Type : Dupondius en bronze

Empereur : Antonin le Pieux (138-161 ap. J.-C.)

Référence : RIC 898

Poids : Environ 10,87 g

État : Patine verte foncée, usure naturelle, détails bien visibles

Description :

Avers : Buste radié d’Antonin le Pieux à droite, légende impériale complète.

Revers : Annona assise à gauche, tenant une corne d’abondance et des épis de blé au-dessus d’un modius, légende “ANNONA AVG” et “S C”.