| PAGE |
| Introduction | [xxiii] |
| [PART I] |
| [CHAPTER I] |
| General sketch of conditions, [1]. The Augustan Histories and their writers, [2]. Lampridius, author of the Life of Elagabalus, [4]. First attempts at criticism, [4]. Modern criticism, [4]. Latin sources: Marius Maximus, [5]. Greek sources: Dion Cassius, Xiphilinus, [7]. Herodian, [8]. General attack on the authenticity of the “Lives,” [9]. Mommsen’s opinion, [10]. Peter, Richter, Dessau, Seeck, Klebs, Kornemann, [11-15]. Italian opinion, [15]. General opinion of the biographies, [16]. Reasons for the tainted sources, [18]. Church historians, [19]. Jurisprudence, [21]. Numismatists, [21]. Object of this work, [23]. | |
| [CHAPTER II] |
| Emesa, [24]. High-Priest Kings, [25]. Septimius Severus, [27]. Julius Bassianus, [27]. Julia Domna’s marriage, [28]. Caracalla’s birth, [29]. Septimius Severus, Emperor, [30]. Julia’s court, [31]. Maesa comes to Rome with her family, [31]. Marriage of Soaemias, [34]. Birth of Elagabalus, [35]. Paternity of Elagabalus, [35]. Birthplace of Elagabalus, [36]. Julia Mamaea, her marriage, and her connection with Caracalla, [38]. Macrinus Praetorian Praefect, [41]. His plot against Caracalla, [42]. Election of Macrinus, [43]. Julia’s position, [43]. Her work to recover the empire, [43]. Banishment and death, [44]. | |
| [CHAPTER III] |
| Maesa’s return to Emesa, [46]. Macrinus’ weakness and tyranny, [47]. The legion at Emesa, [48]. Bassianus High-Priest, [49]. Worship of Elagabal, [50]. Bassianus’ religious outlook, [51]. Eutychianus and Gannys corrupt the soldiers, [53]. Date of the proclamation of Elagabalus, [55]. Macrinus astonished, [56]. The Empire in favour of Bassianus, Julian’s expedition, [59]. Deserters to Bassianus, [61]. Macrinus at Apamea, and Diadumenianus’ elevation, [63]. Macrinus retires to Antioch, [66]. Bassianus wins allegiance of soldiers at Apamea, [67]. Dion on the dates of proclamation and battle, [67]. Arval Brothers’ meeting, [68]. Wirth, [69]. Battle of Immae, [69]. Antonine at Antioch, [71]. Macrinus’ escape, [72]. Capture and death, [74]. Character of Macrinus, [75]. | |
| [CHAPTER IV] |
| Antonine’s refusal to allow the sack of Antioch, [77]. Chief minister, [78]. Antonine’s temperament, [79]. Acts of the new Government, [81]. Amnesty, [83]. Position of the Senate, [84]. Delight of Rome, [86]. Dismissal of troops, [87]. Treasonable attempts and pretenders, [88]. Elagabal to accompany the Emperor, [91]. Journey to Nicomedia, [92]. Winter in Asia Minor, [93]. Illness of the Emperor, [94]. Xiphilinus on Antonine’s religion, [95]. Monotheistic or Mithraic not polytheistic, [96]. Death of Gannys, [101]. Antonine’s character, [102]. His popularity and his taxation, [104]. | |
| [CHAPTER V] |
| Date of arrival in Rome discussed, [107]. The entry into the city according to Herodian, [110]. First marriage, [111]. The temples, [112]. The scheme for the unifying of religions, [114]. The worship, [115]. The Eastern cults, [115]. Date of scheme discussed, [118]. Reasons for its failure, [118]. Women in the Senate, [119]. Senaculum, [121]. Lampridius on the Emperor’s popularity, [124]. Charges against the Administration, [125]. Divorce of Julia Paula, [126]. Pastimes, [127]. Summary, [128]. Elagabal’s alliance with Vesta, Antonine’s with Aquilia Severa, [129]. Pomponius Bassus’ plot, [131]. Antonine divorces Elagabal from Minerva, himself from Aquilia Severa, [132]. Sends for Tanit from Carthage, [133]. Marries Annia Faustina, [134]. Alliance of Maesa and Mamaea, [135]. | |
| [CHAPTER VI] |
| Lampridius on Alexander, [137]. Seius Carus’ plot, [139]. Military expenditure, [140]. Maesa’s plan for the adoption of Alexander, [141]. The Emperor’s reasons for concurrence, [142]. Name Alexander accounted for, [144]. Date of adoption discussed, [145]. Position after adoption, [146]. Alexander’s titles, [147]. Antonine’s endeavours, [148]. Antonine’s resolve to divorce Annia Faustina and disown Alexander, [150]. Accusations against the Government, [151]. Antonine’s attempt to assassinate Alexander discussed, [152]. Antonine goes to Praetorian camp, [154]. Camp conference, [155]. Hatred of Maesa and Mamaea testified against Antonine, [157]. Mamaea’s precautions, [158]. Antonine’s preparations for suicide, [160]. Alexander designated Consul, [160]. The Emperor’s refusal and reasons for his compliance, [161]. Lampridius on Julius Sabinus, [163]. Ulpian and Silvinus, [164]. Reasons for the murder and the various accounts, [165]. Criticism on the above, [170]. The treatment of Elagabalus’ body, [171]. | |
| [CHAPTER VII] |
| The Emperor set free to further his cult, [173]. The procession, [174]. Mismanagement and appointments, [178]. Freedmen, [180]. Return of Aquilia Severa, [183]. Desire for military glory, [184]. The names of the Emperor, [185]. Activity in building, [186]. Military disaffection, its causes and result, [188]. Date of Elagabalus’ murder and length of reign discussed, [191]. Date for renewal of tribunician power discussed, [194]. Elagabalus’ interest in public affairs, [198]. The treatment of inscriptions, [198]. Outlook of the Roman world, [200]. | |
| [CHAPTER VIII] |
| Roman views on matrimony, [203]. Elagabalus’ marriage with Julia Paula, [205]. Position of Julius Paulus, [206]. Serviez, etc., on Julia Paula, [207]. Dates of this marriage and divorce, [208]. Elagabalus’ marriage with Aquilia Severa, [211]. Vestals discussed, [211]. Roman religion, [212]. Elagabalus’ lack of prejudice, [214]. His explanation to the Senate, [215]. Family of Aquilia Severa, [215]. Probable dates of marriage and divorce, [216-18]. Maesa’s desire for an alliance with the nobility, [218]. Annia Faustina chosen, her family discussed, [222]. Her age and her divorce, [223]. Further marriages discussed, [224]. Elagabalus’ return to Aquilia, [225]. | |
| [PART II] |
| [CHAPTER IX] |
| Lampridius’ Life of Elagabalus impossible, [227]. Elagabalus a psycho-sexual hermaphrodite, not wicked, [229]. The condition quite usual then as now, [229]. Virtue a virile quality, not a neurotic negation, [229]. The Phallus natural and omnipresent typifies joy and fruitfulness, [230]. Elagabalus has strong homosexual nymphomania and every inducement to gratify his feminine instinct, [231]. His nature incredibly open and affectionate, [232]. Maesa an aggravating factor, [234]. Modern authorities on similarly inverted cases to-day, [234]. Biblical parallels, Greek instances, modern religious tendencies, [234]. Normal intolerance largely hypocritical, [235]. The usual instincts of such natures, [235]. Elagabalus’ love of flowers, feasts, and teasing, [236]. His marriages psychologically considered, [238]. His castration and desire for an operation which might produce the female organs discussed, [238]. Elagabalus’ marriage with Hierocles, [239]. Hierocles and Zoticus discussed, [239]. Comparison with Messalina, [240]. Spintries, [240]. Elagabalus’ love of colour, [241]. His frankness, [241]. Greek love opposed to effeminacy, [242]. Gulick on the psychology, on Christianity, [242]. Effeminacy, not homosexuality, disgusts Roman world and gives reason for Elagabalus’ downfall, [244]. | |
| [CHAPTER X] |
| Description of Nero’s golden house, [245]. Elagabalus compared with Nero, [246]. Pastimes, prodigalities, and dress, [246]. Extravagances of ritual, [250]. Congiaries and games, [251]. Table appointments and food, [252]. Maecenas’ feast, [254]. Perfumes, [256]. Fish, [258]. The spectacles described, [260]. Gladiators discussed, [262]. Elagabalus’ skill as a sportsman, [263]. The lotteries, [264]. Elagabalus’ devices for suicide, [265]. The psychology of extravagance, [266]. | |
| [CHAPTER XI] |
| Elagabalus’ piety, [267]. Constantine the opponent of other monotheisms, [268]. Theories of religion, [269]. Civilised religion becomes philosophical, [269]. Rome both atheist and credulous, [270]. Civic religion leaves the forces of sex and superstition out of count, [270]. Gods always necessary to the superstitious, the more mystical the more attractive, [271]. Semitic rituals attract the mob, [273]. Elagabal exclusive and absorbs other cults, [273]. Elagabalus’ scheme Erastian, compared with Tudor conception, [273]. Elagabalus will not persecute, [276]. Religion and castration, [276]. Elagabalus no idolator, [277]. His mistake in trying to amalgamate the hated Judaism with Roman deities, [277]. Marriages of Elagabal, [278]. Human sacrifices discussed, [280]. The column for the meteorite, [281]. Contest between religion and dogma, [282]. The numbers of the mob prevail against the rationalists, [284]. Rome bored with all Gods, hence Elagabalus’ failure, [285]. | |
| BIBLIOGRAPHY | [289] |
| INDEX | [299] |