n the case of Elagabalus we have historians undeniably caught in the shower, bent over picking up the soap. The slanted view, deliberate massacre of truth, and purposeful denigration of a child who became ruler at fourteen and deposed by murder, four years later, while still a teenager, is transparent. However, if any facet of the historical descriptions are in the least accurate, Avitus was what we today have termed transsexual. The prejudice against gender variants and the spirituality of gender variants had already begun, the fires of aversion fanned by Jews and the early Christian cult. However, the antagonism wasn't nearly as pervasive as it would become once Christianity dominated Rome. "Homosexuality" and "transsexuality" weren't detested in the Rome of Elagabalus as jaundiced historians record, although it had begun to be viewed with uneasiness. How else would this fourteen year old gender variant child have become emperor? Can you imagine any transsexual or homosexual, fourteen years old or not, being named President of the United States, or King of England? The difference between the attitudes then and after Christianity, is the difference between that which is considered an annoyance and that which is considered intolerable. Chris Scarre writes, vilifyingly, in "Chronicle of the Roman Emperors," 1995, " ... the one contemporary bust of Elagabalus (Capitoline Museum) reveals a soft, immature face, with large eyes and full lips." Exactly, what does Mr. Scarre expect a teenage boy, emperor of Rome or not, to look like? How mature is Elagabalus supposed to be between the ages of 14 and 18? Had he not wanted to poison the well he would have written, "The bust of Elagabalus points out that he was merely a young boy, not yet even a young man."

Scarre quotes Cassius Dio, an ancient historian, and describes the quotation as a "chilling" account of Elagabalus religious rites, "I will not describe the barbaric chants which Sardanapalus, together with his mother and grandmother, chanted to Elagabalus, or the secret sacrifices that he offered to him, slaying boys and using charms, in fact actually shutting up alive in the god's temple a lion, a monkey, and a snake, and throwing in among them human genitals, and practicing other unholy rites, while he invariably wore innumerable amulets." At best Cassius Dio is a historian with a jaundiced perspective who is repeating gossip. Moreover Cassius has confused Elagabalus with Ashurbanipal. Ashurbanipal was known to the Greeks as Sardanapalus, never Elagabalus. Scarre makes no attempt to point out this error. How much reliance should we place in a historian confused over the name of his subject? How much credibility should we place in a man who says he won't talk about the "secret sacrifices" of Elagabalus, who then proceeds to do exactly that? Which is a more plausible analysis, that this transsexual teenage emperor was a serial killer, or that his enemies made up stories to defame him?

In "The Life of Elagabalus" we read that he depilated his face and body in order to arouse the lust of the greatest number ... exactly how gullible are we expected to be, to believe that a 14 year old boy needed depilation? Fourteen year old boys scarcely have pubic hair, let alone a beard or hair on the rest of their bodies. So completely pervasive is the hostility toward gender variants instilled by the monotheistic patriarchy and later inflamed by Judeo-Christian dogma that rationality has been put aside in favor of phantasmagorical demonizing. In fact, soldiers of the empire were among the first in Rome to embrace the animosity toward gender variants inherent in Christianity. Christianity sanctified their view of men as macho, women as subservient, and gender variants as disgusting. The two forces fed each other and supported each other until, with the advent of Constantine, even the emperors took up the Christian cross. But what did Elagabalus actually do that provoked ancient historians, and moderns, to portray him in such lurid colors and how did he come to be emperor?

His grandmother, Julia Maesa, younger sister of the empress Julia Domna, and his mother, Julia Soaemias, in league with Gannys, his mother's lover, approached the Third Legion "Gallica" and had Avitus proclaimed emperor. Shortly afterward, on June 8th, 218, the troops of Macrinus, the reigning emperor, were overthrown at Antioch and Elagabalus was recognized as ruler of all Rome. That the new emperor was Syrian and a hereditary priest of an oriental sun god apparently didn't initially appear to foster any serious misgivings.

Avitus, Ganny's, Soaemias, and Maesa didn't go directly to Rome after he became emperor, but spent a number of months at Antioch and later Nicomedia. Soaemias, fearful of Gannys growing popularity, persuaded her son to execute him, lest he lose the throne he had so recently occupied. Consternated at this turn of events, he did as he was told. However, it had been his intention to give Ganny's the title of Caesar, allow him to marry his mother, and then, a deeply devoted believer, he would return to his religious devotions. With Ganny's gone the real power in Rome was his grandmother and his mother. Which was apparently what they had intended from the start.

Elagabalus, devoted to the androgynous god Elagabal, wanted to establish a kind of monotheism in Rome, demoting all others gods and goddesses to the position of servants to the principal deity. Many of the sacred symbols of other religions were moved to the temple of Elagabal, including those of Jews and Christians. To persuade followers of other deities to worship Elagabal, Avitus participated in the rituals of several other religions. On a daily basis animal sacrifices were performed, consistent with the practices of many of the religions. However, "The Life of Elagabalus", a dubious source in that it creates a hirsute monster out of the child emperor, would have us believe "he sacrificed children and examined their vitals and tortured them, after the Syrian manner". That this is deliberate fabrication is exposed by the fact that such practices were not part of Syrian religion and therefore not likely to be the practice of Elagabalus. The author has been caught in a deliberate distortion.

Historians record Elagabalus' life as scandalous, yet an examination of their remarks reveal a troubled youth struggling with his identity. "Not only was he bi-sexual, but also a transvestite. He would go to the taverns at night wearing a wig, woman's clothes and makeup and ply the trade of a prostitute. This activity only ended when he met Hierocles, a Carian slave, and became his wife. Hierocles was even permitted to beat the emperor when displeased, as any man might beat his wife. Even more scandalous Elagabalus not only acted and dressed like a woman, but he wanted to be physically transformed into one. He asked his physicians to contrive a vagina for him, promising huge rewards for success." How shocking! This unfortunate young gender variant, emperor of Rome, felt himself to be a woman and was demonized because of it.

At the age of 14, in 218, Avitus, a zealous believer, declared a religious initiative giving Elagabal precedence over all other gods, even Jupiter himself. The god was also to have a consort. Pallas Athena was the first choice, a goddess tended by the Vestal Virgins. As part of his strategy Avitus married one of the vestals. However, there was considerable opposition to Pallas and Urania, a moon goddess, was chosen instead. His attempt to unify Rome under one religion met with strong resistance and did nothing to moderate his unpopularity. In the very year that Elagabalus became emperor the Third Legion, which had placed him in office, attempted to replace him with Verus, their commander. The attempt failed. Over time, subsequent attempts by the Fourth Legion, by the fleet, and by a pretender named Seleucus also failed.

As emperor Avitus had a Temple built to Elagabal, restored the Flavian Amphitheatre (the Colosseum) that had been damaged by fire and completed the construction of the public baths of Caracalla in the Vicus Sulplicius. He also had built a palace complex, the Horti Variani, with an amphitheatre, a circus, a bath, and audience hall. His most famous projects, however, were the temple of Elagabal (the Elagaballium) on the Palatine hill and another such temple on the south-eastern edge of the city. From these temples the emperor delivered largesse to crowds that gathered below. None of his works, or gifts to the people, were sufficient to offset his reputation, tarnished by his promiscuous behavior with men and women. Regardless, provided with almost absolute power one wonders, wouldn't most teenage boys be self- indulgent? Many of the adult emperors did no less.

As his popularity dwindled his mother, Julia Soaemias, and other supporters recognized that the royal family was in danger of their lives. Rome had a tradition of murdering unpopular emperors, and sometimes their adherents as well. In hopes of rescuing the regime his close family and supporters induced Elagabalus to adopt his cousin Bassianus Alexianus, a young man popular with the praetorian guard, and name him Caesar, heir to the throne. The scheme backfired in that Julia Mamaea, Alexianus's mother, was as ambitious as Julia Soaemias and desired to see her son emperor as quickly as possible. Mamaea, playing on the praetorian guard's contempt for Elagabalus entreated for the assassination of Elagabalus. Soaemias, discovering the adoption had created greater danger not less, urged Elagabalus to have his cousin killed lest he himself be murdered. However, no one would obey the order.

Here is where we catch up with Julia Soaemias and Elagabalus:

"Mother," spoke the young emperor, 18 years old, the glow of childhood still reflected in his eyes, "they don't understand what I want to accomplish. If they did, they wouldn't hate me."

"Child," replied Julia Soaemias, "they have more than one reason to hate you. You're obsessed with being a woman and you flaunt Roman tradition. You seek to bring down their gods and make them slaves to Elagabal. Elagabal knows I worship him as much as you, but he wants not that we place him above other gods."

"I will go to the praetorian camp and entreat with them, explain what I intend. Surely they will listen. A single god for all Rome would unify us as naught else might. Our former glory would be restored and Rome would endure forever. I will go. I will go now! The armies must be made to understand," declared the emperor, rising from his throne even as he spoke.

"If you go to the guard they are as likely to kill you as listen to you," admonished his mother.

"That is a chance I must take," he retorted, "Rome is more important than my life."

At the praetorian camp:

"All hail Nellie Ellie," sarcastically called a guardsman upon the approach of the emperor.

"Run, fear for your manhood, she comes to drain us dry," screamed another voice.

Other guardsmen laughed and joined in, a little nervously at first, after all this was the emperor of Rome, but with growing enthusiasm. Stepping down from his chariot Elagabalus, dressed as a woman, his wig meticulously styled and his makeup artfully done, spoke in a loud voice, "I have come to discuss with you the fate of Rome." His mother, having accompanied him stepped down beside him, on her countenance fear was plainly written. She had a bad feeling about what could happen that night and the crowd of soldiers mocking and jeering did nothing to lessen that fear.

"Alexianus would have me murdered and restore the old gods, the many religions which kept Romans apart. I have dedicated my rule to bringing our great nation together under one god, you must see the wisdom in such a venture," he called out in a loud voice, ignoring the insults and belittling remarks.

"Wisdom from a boy whore," yelled out a disgruntled soldier, "Drunk one night, boy, I had you. Was that your wisdom, Nellie Ellie?" The crowd laughed uproariously.

"I am the priestess of Elagabal. It is my place to be among my people, to suffer the worst and the best at your hands. I am also your emperor and I command you to kill my rival, Alexianus," he ordered.

His mother leaned forward and whispered in his ear, "Tread softly my son, their temper is not to be trifled with. I like not their mood."

"You have had my spear once, priestess," venomously spat a soldier near the front of those gathered. "Now have another!" As the soldier uttered the words he hurled a spear. It landed to one side, but came perilously close to hitting Elagabalus.

"I want nothing but the betterment of Rome," shouted Avitus, taking his mother by the arm and retreating to his chariot. Too late he took the reins of his spirited horses, the soldiers had already surrounded his chariot and taken control.

"You will agree to abdicate in favor of Alexianus before you leave this night, or you shall not leave," spoke up the closest of his adversaries. The army heard the words and began to chant, "Alexianus, Alexianus, Alexianus."

Enraged the youthful emperor screamed, "I am emperor. It is I who know what is best for Rome. Not you traitors. Now, let go of my horses!" With his whip he struck at the face of the nearest soldier, landing a vicious blow that brought blood. The soldier in turn pulled Elagabalus from the chariot and stabbed him. Others joined in. The last thing Elagabalus saw before he died was the soldiers pulling his mother from the chariot,"Let my mother be," he tried to yell, but only a whisper passed his lips.

So ended the reign of the teenage Varius Avitus Bassinus, having ruled Rome for but four years. He had been the first emperor to attempt to unify Rome with a monotheistic religion. His gender variance, his sexual escapades while frowned on but tolerated had destroyed his credibility. Had he been a more respectable and traditional figure, more believable, he might have succeeded in bringing a singular god to the Roman empire. Unfortunately, the god Elagabal didn't find much favor with the soldiers of Rome. However, the double jeopardy of his promiscuous nature and attempting to instill monotheism assured his downfall. After the murders, his body and that of his mother's, were dragged naked through the streets of Rome. Finally, beheaded, both bodies were thrown into the Tiber, the punishment for convicted criminals.