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Roman Empire

Ruler: Aquilia Severa 2nd (and 4th) wife of Elagabalus
Reigned: married 220 AD
Denomination: Fourrée silver plated denarius
Mint: Rome
Date of Issue: 221 AD
Obverse: Draped bust right. "IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG."
Reverse: Concordia standing half left, sacrificing out of a patera over lighted altar and holding double cornucopiae;
star in left field. "CONCORDIA"
Reference: RSC 2a, RCVM 7679, RIC 225
Weight: 2.1 gms
Diameter: 17.4 mm

The Three Wives of ELAGABALUS

  • 1. Julia Cornelia Paula, daughter of Julius Paulus, the Praetorian Prefect.
  • 2. Julia Aquilia Severa, daughter of Quintus Aquilius, twice Consul under Caracalla
  • 3. Annia Faustina, daughter of Claudius Severus and Vibia Sabina (daughter of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior)
  • Soon after he arrived in Rome in 219 Elagabalus married Julia Cornelia Paula, a lady from a distinguished family.
  • By the end of 220 he had divorced her and married Julia Aquilia Severa, a Vestal Virgin. This was in breach of Roman law and tradition, which held that any Vestal found guilty of sexual intercourse should be buried alive.
  • Within a year Aquilia Severa had been abandoned and in July 221 he married Annia Faustina, a descendant of Marcus Aurelius.
  • By the end of the year he had returned to Julia Aquilla Severa.

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R15120