Elagabalus - Origins of a Syrian Emperor

[Viggen]

First part in our emperor series on Elagabalus` life

 

Only one emperor has managed to surpass Caligula's reputation for deranged behaviour and homicidal debauchery, and that is the man who takes his name from the god he attempted to impose on Rome – Elagabalus. During his four-year rule, Elagabalus' behaviour alternately outraged and delighted the people of Rome, while behind the scenes the Roman empire was competently governed by his mother and grandmother. It was only when these two women fell out that Elagabalus' short but flamboyant reign was brought to an end...

 

...continue to the full article on Elagabalus - Origins of a Syrian Emperor

[mott groom]

a great subject of discussion. I have included a couple of quotations on how ancient and renaissance literature considered Elagabalus.

 

he would wear a tunic made of cloth of gold, or one made of purple, or a Persian one studded with jewels, and at such times he would say that he felt oppressed by the weight of his pleasures. He even wore jewels on his shoes. History Augusta, Elagabalus

 

and another voice from the future looking back, I do not wish to discuss Heliogabalus, (or) Macrinus . . . who, being thoroughly contemptible, were quickly wiped out.  Machiavelli

 

"when that one god above all was a black rock, the people balked" a Walk with the Emperors, a historical and literary tour of Ancient Rome,  Mott L.L. Groom

Edited March 21, 2016 by mott groom

[sonic]

So what are the primary sources for his reign?

[caldrail]

Roman History Books 79 & 80 (Cassius Dio)

Roman History Book 5 (Herodian)

Historia Augusta, Life of Elagabulus 1 & 2 (Anon)

[guy]

Great write-up.

 

I wrote about some of the numismatic evidence of his reign a few years ago.

 

 

http://www.unrv.com/forum/topic/16297-elagabalus-bringing-the-syrian-sun-god-to-rome/

 

 

 

guy also known as gaius

Edited April 1, 2016 by guy

[Viggen]

Second part in our emperor series on Elagabalus` life. We know very little for certain about Elagabalus while he was emperor. There are two reasons for this. The first is that all palace politics are generally obscure, but when imperial policy is being made by women in an society deeply suspicious of women in politics, these women must necessarily work well behind the scenes. (Though the Julias did force through a decree allowing them to attend meetings of the senate.) Elagabalus himself had little interest in the minutiae of government and had little personal effect on the empire as a whole. In matters of imperial administration ‘he was completely under the control of his mother’, according to the historian Herodian…

 

…continue to Elagabalus the Emperor

[caldrail]

One does suspect that very little imperial policy was being made either by Elagabulus or his mother. Sine the young emperor was too busy being a teenage weirdo and his mum a female only tolerated in Senate circles, it does follow that either the bulk of policy was being decided by the Senate or the imperial household, probably more likely the former, and such decisions were not enough to rise to the attention of Roman writers more concerned with headline grabbing world affairs. In other words, the empire was bumbling along under momentum rather than actual guidance with increasing frustration in high circles.