Elagabalus or
Heliogabalus (; ; 203 – March 11, 222), was
Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the
Severan Dynasty, he was
Syrian, the second son of
Julia Soaemias and
Sextus Varius Marcellus. In his early youth he served as a priest of the god
Elagabal (in Latin,
Elagabalus) in the hometown of his mother's family,
Emesa. As a private citizen, he was probably named Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus. Upon becoming emperor he took the name Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. He was called Elagabalus only after his death.