Symbols of the Sun God on Coins of the Eccentric Emperor Elagabalus

Instructor: Michael A. Kodysz

The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, known to history as Elagabalus, served as chief priest of the Syrian sun god El-Gabal. This talk explores the significant proportion of Elagabalus’ coins that reference the sun god through symbols such as stars, stones, and the emperor’s priestly accouterments.