CHAPTER I

HISTORY OF THE YEARS 218-222 A. D.

Since it is absolutely necessary to have the relationship of Heliogabalus to some of the most prominent figures of the period clearly in mind, it has seemed best to introduce at this point his family tree. To this will be added such facts as throw light on the history of the time.

Imp. M. Aur. Antoninus= Imp. M. Aur. Severus
Heliogabalus.
Alexander.

Our whole knowledge of Bassianus is gained from two
passing references in Victor' which give his name and his
title, priest of Elagabalus. Dion's implication that he
was of plebeian origin is hardly credible.

1

Prosopographia Imp. Rom., vol. 1, p. 194 (for brevity this will be cited as P. I. R.); cf. Pauly-Wissowa, R. E., vol. 2, p. 2541.

2 Victor, Epitome 21, 2, and 23, 2.

3

Dion, Exc. Vat. 151, Boissevain, ed., vol. 3, p. 430, and 78, 24, 1; Boissevain's edition is used throughout, but not his numbering of the books. Dion here speaks of Domna as of plebeian extraction. From various sources we know that, after the dissolution of the Seleucid monarchy, Emesa was ruled by a line of hereditary sun priests (of Arabian origin, Zeitschr. Deut. Morgl. Gesellsch., vol. 17 (1863), p. 580; 25 (1871),

Of Avitus, the grandfather of Heliogabalus, Dion' tells us that toward the end of his life, he held some official position in Cyprus. Since he owned a mansion on the Esquiline, he was probably a man of wealth and position. The little that is known of his wife, Maesa, will be told in the following pages.

3

Soaemias was practically practically unknown before her son's accession. After that time, her position in the state seems to have been subordinate to Maesa's.*

p. 534; 31 (1877), p. 98). The principle of heredity was observed by Augustus in his appointment of a new ruler in 20 B. C. As late as 54 A. D., we find one brother succeeding another. The monarchy lasted until Vespasian certainly, possibly until Domitian (Marquardt, Staatsverw., vol. 1, ed. 2, p. 404) or Antoninus Pius (Daremberg-Saglio, Dict. Antiq., vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 530.) with whom the imperial coinage began. If we estimate twenty years to a generation, it is possible to put the date of Bassianus' birth about 142 A. D. Considering this, and the extreme conservatism of all mankind, especially the Oriental, in matters of religion (Jour. Hell. Stud., vol. 19, 1899, p. 76), it is very doubtful if a man of plebeian birth could gain admission to this priesthood. Even if one thinks these priests were elected from certain families (Ramsay, Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia, vol. 1, pp. 51 and 146), it is not likely that a plebeian family could gain admission to the close corporation which controlled a priesthood with such traditions. Reville, La religion sous les Sévères, p. 193, n. 2; Eckhel, D. N. V., vol. 7, p. 245.

1 Dion 78, 30, 4; cf. Pauly-Wissowa, R. E., vol. 2, p. 2395, 1, f. 2 Not. d. Scav., 1879, p. 113; Lanciani, Syl. Aq., p. 226, no. 100. 3 Zeitschr. Deut. Morgl. Gesellsch., vol. 31 (1877), p. 98. Here arguments are advanced to show that the name is of Arabic origin. In Rev. Arch., vol. 32 (1898), p. 40, Perdrizet gives a different explanation.

In the few inscriptions where Soaemias is mentioned with Maesa, she takes second place (C. I. L. VI, 1079, VIII, 2564, 2715; cf. VI, 2832 where Mamaea's name takes third place, and Bull. Arch., 1902, p. 325 where her name precedes Maesa's). In

Her husband, Sextus Varius Marcellus, enjoyed considerable influence and prominence. As early as 196, he held' the position of procurator aquarum. His advancement through the successive grades of procuratorships to the rank of prefect, and thence to the praetorian class of the senatorial order, was uninterrupted. At the time of his death, he had either completed his term of office as legatus legionis iii Augustae praeses provinciae Numidiae," or was still holding that position. Although no accurate estimate of

the Arval records for 218, Maesa is mentioned by name; Soaemias is included in the domus divina. The inscription MATER AUG., so common on the coins of Domna and Mamaea, is never found on those of Soaemias. Her coins seem to emphasize her connection with the worship of Elagabalus, and other cults, Cohen, vol. 4, p. 388, nos. 4, 8, and 14-19; cf. Rev. Arch., Ser. 4, vol. 2 (1903), p. 44; cf. p. 226.

1 1C. I. L. XV, 7326. Marcellus was one of the few incumbents of this office who were not freedmen.

2 C. I. L. X, 6569. Sexto Vario Marcello | proc(uratori) aquar(um) C., proc(uratori) prov(inciae) Brit(anniae) C. C., proc(uratori) rationis | privat(ae) C. C. C., vice praef(ectorum) pr(aetorio) et urbi functo, | c(larissimo) v(iro), prae(fecto) aerari militaris, leg(ato) leg(ionis) iii Aug(ustae), | praesidi provinc(iae) Numidiae, Julia Soaemias Bassiana c(larissima) f(emina) cum filis | | marito et patri amantissimo. (The C., CC., CCC. refer to the salary attached to these procuratorships, i. e. centenario, ducenario, trecenario.) Domaszewski, Rhein. Mus., vol. 58 (1903), p. 222, remarks that Caracalla would only have made Marcellus vice regent, by the union of the city and praetorian prefectures, in his own absence, probably between 213-215. The fact that Marcellus was later praefectus aerarii militaris he explains by the excessive increase of the pay of the soldiers in 215-16. Only a man of proved loyalty and financial ability could handle the situation. The African appointment was his reward. The province of Numidia was created under Septimius Severus, Marquardt, Staatsverw., vol. 1, p. 470, and n. 3. Henzen, Annal. Inst. Arch., 1860, p. 34, tries to date this event, but the evidence is doubtful.

1

the time spent in each of these offices can be made, it seems safe to say that his death probably occurred in the latter part of the first decade of the third century or even later; Domaszewski says probably in 217. The time of this event is of importance since it helps to fix the time when Soaemias returned to Emesa. If Domaszewski's ' theory is correct, then the silence of the historians about the early life of Heliogabalus must be due to his unpopularity. If the lad were brought up at Emesa, however, it would be easier to explain this lack of information, than if he spent most of his youth at Velitrae, some twentyfive miles south of Rome. At any rate, either because of this lack of information or because of some statements now lost, both Ammianus Marcellinus* and Julianus imply that Heliogabalus was a native of Emesa.*

It seems useless to enter into any discussion about the name which Heliogabalus bore as a lad. There is a hopeless conflict of sources; Herodian gives him the title Bassianus, Dio calls him Avitus. No other evidence is available. Therefore, until further light on the subject is secured, it is wisest not to come to any definite conclusion.

1

The praefectus aerarii militaris was originally a three years office, but was later less. Mommsen, Roem. Staatsrecht, vol. 2, ed. 3, p. 1011, n. 4.

Op. cit., p. 223.

The funeral inscription of Sextus Varius Marcellus was found at Velitrae, C. I. L. X, 6569.

Ammianus 26, 6, 20.

Julianus, Convivium 313, A.

Eckhel, D. N. V., vol. 7, p. 246, says Heliogabalus was born at Emesa, Reville, op. cit., p. 258, thinks the lad was brought up there. Schiller, Roem. Kais., vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 760, thinks that Soaemias and Mamaea were with Maesa at the court, and were sent with her to Emesa by Macrinus.

P. I. R. vol. 1, p. 194.

I. THE RISE OF HELIOGABALUS

1. THE PLOT IN FAVOR OF HELIOGABALUS

In order to get a clear idea of the chain of circumstances which resulted in the elevation of Heliogabalus to the imperial throne, it is necessary to take into account certain events which followed shortly after the death of Caracalla. The reason for this will be plain when we remember how Caracalla made use of the practical acquaintance with the affairs of state which Domna's' unusual prominence had given her. During his absence on campaign duty, she was practically in charge of the temporary court at Antioch. Since all letters intended for the emperor had first to pass through her hands so that she might send on to him only the most important, she came to know many of the most important officials of the empire. Since many of these were Syrians who owed their appointment to her, while others were under obligation to her for favors, she could count on their support.

At the time of Caracalla's death, we are told, Domna's keenest grief was at her loss of power. Before she learned what the course of Macrinus was likely to be, she seems to have thought of suicide as a means of escaping the loss of prestige which her return to private life would bring. Her fears on that score proved groundless. The new emperor permitted her to remain at Antioch and left all the outward marks of her former dignity unaltered. This

1 April 8, 217; Amer. Jour. Arch., vol. 6 (1902), p. 295. 2 Amer. Jour. Arch., vol. 6 (1902), pp. 259, 264, 273, 297. 3 Dion 77, 18, 2, 3; Boissevain's ed., vol. 3, p. 397; 78, 4, 2; Amer. Jour. Arch., vol. 6, p. 290.

'Reville, op. cit., pp. 9, 13. In the first part of the third century the most important juris consults were Syrians; and under Severus, Orientals sit in the Senate and are masters of his council; cf. p. 254.