The Emperor Elagabalus : fact or fiction? / Leonardo de Arrizabalaga y Prado.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2010.Description: xxxv, 381 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cmISBN:
  • 9780521895552 (hbk.)
  • 0521895553 (hbk.)
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 937/.07092 22
LOC classification:
  • DG303 .A77 2010
Online resources:
Contents:
pt. 1. Exposition -- Radical and basic questions -- Problematic -- Sources and method of enquiry -- pt. 2. Explosion -- Varius, Elagabalus and Heliogabalus -- Varian texts -- Analysis of Varian propositions -- pt. 3. Constitution -- A mental exercise -- Coins -- Inscriptions -- Papyri, ostraca, and mummy labels -- Sculpture : round -- Sculpture : relief -- Topography -- Res gestae -- pt. 4. Speculation -- The question Why? -- Varius' priesthood -- Varius' childhood -- Varius' heritage -- Varius' reality -- pt. 5. Findings in contexts -- Findings -- Varius' family -- The Severan dynasty -- The Roman principate -- Varius' shift -- Varius and his models -- Severan self-presentation -- Varius and the imperial administration -- Varius and history -- Varius and culture -- Appendix 1: Theory of knowledge -- Appendix 2: Varian propositions -- Appendix 3: Varian coin concordance -- Appendix 4: List of Varian inscriptions -- Appendix 5: List of Varian papyri, ostraca, and mummy labels -- Appendix 6: Varian chronology.
Summary: "The third-century adolescent Roman emperor miscalled Elagabalus or Heliogabalus was made into myth shortly after his murder. For 1800 years since, scandalous stories relate his alleged depravity, debauchery, and bloodthirsty fanaticism as high priest of a Syrian sun god. From these, one cannot discern anything demonstrably true about the boy or his reign. This book, drawing on the author's detailed research and publications, investigates what can truly be known about this emperor. Through careful analysis of all sources, including historiography, coins, inscriptions, papyri, sculpture, and topography, it shows that there are things of which we can be sure, and others that are likely. Through these we can reassess his reign. We discover a youth, thrust by his handlers into power on false pretences, who creates his own more authentic persona as priest-emperor, but loses the struggle for survival against rivals in his family, who justify his murder with his myth"--Provided by publisher.
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Item type Current library Call number Status Date due Barcode
Circulating Philip Becker Goetz Library DG303 .A77 2010 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available

Includes bibliographical references and index.

pt. 1. Exposition -- Radical and basic questions -- Problematic -- Sources and method of enquiry -- pt. 2. Explosion -- Varius, Elagabalus and Heliogabalus -- Varian texts -- Analysis of Varian propositions -- pt. 3. Constitution -- A mental exercise -- Coins -- Inscriptions -- Papyri, ostraca, and mummy labels -- Sculpture : round -- Sculpture : relief -- Topography -- Res gestae -- pt. 4. Speculation -- The question Why? -- Varius' priesthood -- Varius' childhood -- Varius' heritage -- Varius' reality -- pt. 5. Findings in contexts -- Findings -- Varius' family -- The Severan dynasty -- The Roman principate -- Varius' shift -- Varius and his models -- Severan self-presentation -- Varius and the imperial administration -- Varius and history -- Varius and culture -- Appendix 1: Theory of knowledge -- Appendix 2: Varian propositions -- Appendix 3: Varian coin concordance -- Appendix 4: List of Varian inscriptions -- Appendix 5: List of Varian papyri, ostraca, and mummy labels -- Appendix 6: Varian chronology.

"The third-century adolescent Roman emperor miscalled Elagabalus or Heliogabalus was made into myth shortly after his murder. For 1800 years since, scandalous stories relate his alleged depravity, debauchery, and bloodthirsty fanaticism as high priest of a Syrian sun god. From these, one cannot discern anything demonstrably true about the boy or his reign. This book, drawing on the author's detailed research and publications, investigates what can truly be known about this emperor. Through careful analysis of all sources, including historiography, coins, inscriptions, papyri, sculpture, and topography, it shows that there are things of which we can be sure, and others that are likely. Through these we can reassess his reign. We discover a youth, thrust by his handlers into power on false pretences, who creates his own more authentic persona as priest-emperor, but loses the struggle for survival against rivals in his family, who justify his murder with his myth"--Provided by publisher.

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