Yet another of the many female deified abstractions depicted on
coin reverses during Hadrian’s principate is Providentia,
“Providence.” However, the word doesn’t simply mean “providence”
in Latin, or anything possibly related to it (e.g. “provision”
in the sense of “provide for,” etc.), but instead what those
terms in English most literally mean: “vision before,” which is
to say, “foresight” or “forethought.” She was honored with an
altar in Rome as Providentia Augusta. The ability of Providentia
to give forethought and foresight to an emperor in order to
prevent calamities in the future, or in any way to alter the
course of future events, no doubt would have been very appealing
to Hadrian, who was interested in astrology and oracles of all
sorts. It is also a very interesting concept to consider when
looking at the eventual changes in religion that came about
under Christianity, especially when paired with another goddess,
the Greek Metanoia, “afterthought” or “regret.” This personified
goddess of regret lat