Elagabalus

A teenage priest of the Syrian sun god El-Gabal, Elagabalus was installed as emperor through the machinations of his grandmother Julia Maesa. His attempt to replace Jupiter with El-Gabal as the supreme Roman deity, combined with scandalous personal behavior, alienated the Senate, military, and populace alike.

Elagabalus's reign illustrates the religious diversity within the empire and the limits of imperial power when exercised against deeply held traditions. The backlash against his religious innovations reinforced the conservative nature of Roman state religion until Constantine.

Key Events

218 AD Proclaimed emperor by soldiers at Emesa; defeated Macrinus at the Battle of Antioch

219 AD Entered Rome with the sacred black stone of El-Gabal; built the Elagabalium temple

220 AD Series of controversial marriages, including to a Vestal Virgin

221 AD Forced by Julia Maesa to adopt his cousin Severus Alexander as heir

222 AD Murdered along with his mother by the Praetorian Guard; bodies thrown in the Tiber

Coinage

Elagabalus's coinage features both the standard antoninianus and denarius, with types frequently referencing the cult of El-Gabal, including depictions of the sacred stone of Emesa. The INVICTVS SACERDOS types showing him in priestly robes are distinctive.

Denominations

Aureus Antoninianus Denarius Sestertius Dupondius As

Notable Types

Sacred stone of Emesa types
INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG types
SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG types
Quadriga carrying the sacred stone

Common Reverses

INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG SVMMVS SACERDOS AVG SACERD DEI SOLIS ELAGAB FIDES EXERCITVS SALVS ANTONINI AVG

Active Mints

Rome Antioch

Key Events

Coinage

Further Reading