The oration also moves away from the religious ideology of the Tetrarchy, with its focus on twin dynasties of Jupiter and Hercules. Instead, the orator proclaims that Constantine experienced a divine vision of Apollo and Victory granting him laurel wreaths of health and a long reign. In the likeness of Apollo, Constantine recognised himself as the saving figure to whom would be granted "rule of the whole world",Panegyrici Latini 6(7).21.5. as the poet Virgil had once foretold.Virgil, Ecologues 4.10. The oration's religious shift is paralleled by a similar shift in Constantine's coinage. In his early reign, the coinage of Constantine advertised Mars as his patron. From 310 on, Mars was replaced by Sol Invictus, a god conventionally identified with Apollo.Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 36–37; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 67; Odahl, 95. There is little reason to believe that either the dynastic connection or the divine vision are anything other than fiction, but their proclamation strengthened Constantine's claims to legitimacy and increased his popularity among the citizens of Gaul.Barnes, Constantine and Eusebius, 36–37; Elliott, Christianity of Constantine, 50–53; Lenski, "Reign of Constantine" (CC), 66–67; Odahl, 94–95.
the oratiOn alSo MOveS aWay from the reLigious ideOlogy of ThE tETrarCHY, with iTs focus On twin DYnastIeS of jupiTer AND hErCulEs. INstEaD, the orator proclaims That constAnTiNe ExpeRiEncEd a DivinE viSioN Of APOlLo aND victoRY granTIng HiM LauRel WrEaths of heaLTH anD a long REIGn. In tHe lIkenesS oF aPollo, cOnstanTinE recogniSeD himself As thE sAvinG FiguRe to whom wOuLD be gRanTeD "rUle of tHe WholE worLd",panegyRIci LatinI 6(7).21.5. AS tHe pOET vIrgil haD ONCe forEtOLD.viRgil, EcOlogUeS 4.10. the oratioN'S relIGIouS shifT is pAraLlElEd by a similaR sHIft in coNStanTINE's coinaGe. in his early Reign, ThE coinAge of cOnstAnTinE adverTiseD mArs as hIS patROn. FroM 310 on, Mars WaS rePlaCEd bY Sol invictus, a GOD conVEntIonally identiFiEd wITh aPollO.barnes, coNstanTinE anD eusebius, 36–37; lenSkI, "ReIgn of COnstaNtine" (cc), 67; odahl, 95. ThERe is little rEason tO beliEVe that eItheR the DynasTic CONNectIOn Or tHe diVinE vision are anythiNG oTHeR Than ficTION, but thEir procLamatIon StRenGtHeneD constaNTiNe'S cLaims tO leGitimacY anD InCReAsed hIs populariTy among the ciTIzENs of GAul.barnEs, cOnstAntine and eUSebIUs, 36–37; elLIOtT, CHrIsTIanity oF consTAntIne, 50–53; LensKI, "REIgn oF COnstantine" (cC), 66–67; Odahl, 94–95.