Born with the name Varius Avitus Bassianus, the young Syrian who became Roman Emperor in 218 AD is best known as Elagabalus, which is also the name of the sun god of the Syrian city Emesa. He attained the role of Emperor because he was allegedly the illegitimate son of a previous Roman Emperor, Caracalla, although some sources claim he was Caracalla’s nephew (Mangiaracin 1).
He was only about fourteen years old when he became Emperor of Rome. He took the name Antoninus at this time, for the name Antoninus was highly venerated in Rome, and at first the ...
