Sol Invictus

A nummus of Constantine I, and a metope of Helios in a quadriga

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The title is somewhat peculiar. It blurs before my eyes into incomprehensibility but seems to be “Sol Invictus”, whatever that means. Is that Latin?

Nummus of Constantine I, Trier mint, 307–318

Struck copper alloy, 22.4 mm, 3.31 g. The legend reads SOL INVIC/TO COMITI — to the unconquered Sun, the companion.

Roman copper-alloy nummus of Constantine I, Trier mint, Sol Invictus on the reverse
Roman copper-alloy nummus of Constantine I, Trier mint, Sol Invictus on the reverse

CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anja Rohde, Derby Museums Trust (Portable Antiquities Scheme) · Wikimedia Commons · licence

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— O Sol, bright Sol, on thy heavenly chariot Arising daily over the earth!

Helios in a quadriga — metope from the Temple of Athena at Ilion, c. 300–280 BC

Marble corner block of the triglyph frieze: the row of sculpted metopes on the temple’s north side began here. From Schliemann’s excavation at Ilion (Troy), 1872. Antikensammlung, Altes Museum, Berlin.

Marble metope: the sun god Helios rising in a four-horse chariot, from the Temple of Athena at Ilion
Marble metope: the sun god Helios rising in a four-horse chariot, from the Temple of Athena at Ilion

CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dosseman · Wikimedia Commons · licence