Elagabalus

Ancient Roman Emperor (reigned 218-222). His real name was Varius Avitus Bassianus, and he was also known as Heliogabalus. As an emperor, he was known as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. He was a distant relative of Emperor Septimius Severus. With the support of his grandmother Julia Maesa, he was recommended to the Syrian legions and ascended to the throne. He was from a family of priests of the sun god Ela-Gabal from Emesa, Syria, and as a priest himself, he brought a sacred stone of the sun god to Rome and built a temple, making it the supreme deity of the state. He left politics to his grandmother and mother, and he himself fell into a dissolute lifestyle, which incurred the displeasure of the senate and soldiers, and he was assassinated along with his mother by the Praetorian Guard.

[Nobuo Matsumoto]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代ローマ皇帝（在位218～222）。本名Varius Avitus Bassianus。ヘリオガバルスHelīogabalusともいう。皇帝としてはアウレリウス・アントニヌスMarcus Aurelius Antoninusと称した。セプティミウス・セウェルス帝の遠縁。祖母ユリア・マエサの後押しでシリアの軍団に推戴(すいたい)されて登位した。代々シリアのエメサの太陽神エラ・ガバルの神官の家柄の出で、彼自身神官としてローマに同太陽神の聖石を持ち込んで神殿を建て、これを国家最高神とした。祖母や母に政治を任せ、自らは放縦な生活に陥り、元老院、兵士の不興を買い、近衛(このえ)軍のために母とともに暗殺された。

［松本宣郎］

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