designed to disguise the divine and solar connotations that would otherwise be politically controversial but there is broad agreement that coin-images showing the imperial radiate crown are stylistically distinct from those of the solar crown of rays; the imperial radiate crown is depicted as a real object rather than as symbolic light. Hijmans argues that the Imperial radiate crown represents the honorary wreath awarded to Augustus, perhaps posthumously, to commemorate his victory at the battle of Actium; he points out that henceforth, living emperors were depicted with radiate crowns, but state divi were not. To Hijmans this implies the radiate crown of living emperors as a link to Augustus. His successors automatically inherited (or sometimes acquired) the same offices and honours due to Octavian as “saviour of the Republic” through his victory at Actium, piously attributed to Apollo-Helios. Wreaths awarded to victors at the Actian Games were radiate.
Sol Invictus and Christianity
See also: Early Christianity
There was not a longstanding tradition of a festival for the sun on December 25. Only one, late source mentions a Natalis Invicti, “the birthday of the unconquered one.” on that day. It is true that December 25 was the Roman date for the winter solstice, with the first detectable lengthening of daylight hours, and in his Hymn to King Helios which was written in 362, the last pagan emperor, Julian, records a festival for Sol celebrated in late December, but his protestations that this festival was an ancient one do not ring true.[citation needed] There is no evidence that this festival was celebrated before the mid fourth century AD. Whether the ‘Sol Invictus’ festival “has a strong claim on the responsibility for our