This Week: The Rise of a Pharaoh

Posted by Robin Fowler Feb 18, 2007

February 19, A.D. 197 - On this date, Septimius Severus defeated the army of usurper Decimus Clodius Albinus at the Battle of Lugdunum. Albinus, the Roman Governor of Britain, had tried to take control of the Empire when Emperor Pertinax was assassinated. Albinus died at this decisive battle.

February 22, 1295 B.C. - Ramessess II is named Pharaoh of Egypt, and his coronation takes place on this date. Rising to power in his early twenties, he remained Pharaoh for 66 years, dying in his early nineties. he is generally considered to have been Egypt's greatest Pharaoh.

February 23 - The Roman festival of the Terminalia was held on this date. The festival was held in honor of Terminus, the Roman god of boundaries. During the festival, the Roman stone boundary markers in the city were covered in sacrificial blood, then laid on beds of flowers, which was thought to have given new life to the stones and encouraged greater protection to Rome.