Ancient Coins

Roman Emperor Elagabalus

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Roman Emperor Elagabalus

AD 218 - 222

Darius Avitus Bassianus, later known as M. Aurelius Antoninus, was born at Emesa about 205 A.D.. Son of Sextus Varius Marcellus and Julia Soaemias, and cousin of Caracalla. In his boyhood he was appointed priest of Elagabalus, the Syro-Phoenician Sun-God, but as a result of the revolt of the Syrian army, largely brought about by the machinations of his grandmother Julia Maesa, he was saluted Augustus on May 16. 218.

His forces defeated the army of Macrinus, and he was accepted by the Senate as Emperor. His reign was notable for extravagance and excess of every description, for religious folly and intolerance, and for cruelty and bloodshed. There was general satisfaction amongst the people of Rome when, in 222 AD, the Praetorian guards mutinied and killed both the Emperor and his mother Julia Soaemias, their two bodies being dragged through the streets and thrown into the Tiber River.