Roman Imperial
Julia Maesa (218-224, grandmother of Elagabal and Alexander Severus), Antoninianus 218-222, Rome mint
Obverse: diademed bust on crescent right
IVLIA MAESA AVG
Reverse: Pietas standing left, extending her right hand over an altar and holding incense-box in left hand
PIETAS AVG
Diameter 21 mm, weight 5.59 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 third year of the reign of
Severus Alexander whom she had persuaded Elagabalus to adopt as his
successor.
