Religious controversy Elagabalus

a roman aureus depicting elagabalus. reverse reads sanct(o) deo soli elagabal(o) (to holy sun god elagabalus), , depicts four-horse, gold chariot carrying holy stone of emesa temple.

since reign of septimius severus, sun worship had increased throughout empire. elagabalus saw opportunity install elagabal chief deity of roman pantheon. god renamed deus sol invictus, meaning god undefeated sun, , honored above jupiter.

as token of respect roman religion, however, elagabalus joined either astarte, minerva, urania, or combination of 3 elagabal consort. union between elagabal , traditional goddess have served strengthen ties between new religion , imperial cult. in fact, there may have been effort introduce elagabal, urania, , athena new capitoline triad of rome—replacing jupiter, juno, , minerva.

he aroused further discontent when married vestal virgin aquilia severa, claiming marriage produce godlike children . flagrant breach of roman law , tradition, held vestal found have engaged in sexual intercourse buried alive.

a lavish temple called elagabalium built on east face of palatine hill house elagabal, represented black conical meteorite emesa. herodian wrote stone worshipped though sent heaven; on there small projecting pieces , markings pointed out, people believe rough picture of sun, because how see them .

in order become high priest of new religion, elagabalus had himself circumcised. forced senators watch while danced around altar of deus sol invictus accompaniment of drums , cymbals. each summer solstice held festival dedicated god, became popular masses because of free food distributed on these occasions. during festival, elagabalus placed emesa stone on chariot adorned gold , jewels, paraded through city:

a 6 horse chariot carried divinity, horses huge , flawlessly white, expensive gold fittings , rich ornaments. no 1 held reins, , no 1 rode in chariot; vehicle escorted if god himself charioteer. elagabalus ran backward in front of chariot, facing god , holding horses reins. made whole journey in reverse fashion, looking face of god.

the sacred relics roman religion transferred respective shrines elagabalium, including emblem of great mother, fire of vesta, shields of salii, , palladium, no other god worshipped except in association elagabal.