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Roman Republic Denarius

Here is another image of Victory in a biga charging right. There is perhaps a little more modeling in the horses' legs than in the images of quadrigas. Also, note the exaggerated curvature to the horse's rump and haunches, probably an artistic convention used to convey a sense of speed and power. It would not be an incorrect statement in light of modern thinking to say that the Romans treasured the sense of their own machismo, expressing it in their art. In their society, this was expressed by the concept of auctoritas, a personal and public commanding presence more a function of family and politics than physical strength.