Julia Maesa, Rome mint 218-219 AD, grandmother of Elagabalus

Julia Maesa was the sister of Julia Domna. She and Julia Domna were from a family of priests of the Emesan sun god. Her picture is within a solar crescent. She would not deplict herself as devoted to the moon. Note these women were involved in Roman politics and military campaigns which was a departure from previous generations. They were intercessors with their family members who were perceived as divine. Her grandson Elagabalus was emperor and changed the Roman religion to worship the Syrian sun god. Elagabalus required Jews and Christians to worship with their religious rites in his temple in Rome. Elagabalus was known for his sexual perversions and killed. Roman religious rituals were restored and sun god worshipers were sent back to Syria. Photo Vaughn Rare coin gallery