Roman Imperial
Julia Maesa (218-224, grandmother of Elagabal and Alexander Severus), Denarius, Rome mint
Obverse: bust of Julia facing right
IVLIA MAESA AVG
Reverse: Felicitas standing left, holding a plate above the altar and a caduceus, a star in the right field
SAECVLI FELICITAS
Weight 3.14 g
Julia Maesa was born at Emesa in Syria, daughter of Julius Bassianus, priest of the Sun, sister of Julia Domna and grandmother of Elagabalus. She married Julius Avitus, by whom she had Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, who was the mother of Severus Alexander. She was very wealthy and, when she retired to Emesa at the time of Caracalla 's death, she used that wealth to induce the soldiers to proclaim Elagabalus Emperor. She proceeded to Rome after the defeat of Macrinus and, though against the law, took her seat in the Senate and tried in vain to give good counsel to Elagabalus. She died, regretted, in A.D.223 during the reign of Severus Alexander whom she had persuaded Elagabalus to adopt as his successor.
