Editing Elagabalus (section)

=== Religious controversy ===
[[File:Baetylus (sacred stone) on four-horse chariot.jpg|thumb|Reverse of an ''aureus'' of Elagabalus, with the ''baetyl'' transported in a ''[[quadriga]]''. Inscription: {{Smallcaps|{{abbr|sanct·|SANCTO}} deo soli {{abbr|elagabal·|ELAGABALO}}}} ("''to the Holy Sun God El-Gabal''")]]
[[File:Baetylus (sacred stone).jpg|thumb|The ''baetyl'' of Elgabal back in its home temple at Emesa, on a coin of [[Uranius]]]]
Since the reign of [[Septimius Severus]], [[sun worship]] had increased throughout the Empire.{{sfn|Halsberghe|1972|p=36}} At the end of 220, Elagabalus instated [[Elagabalus (deity)|Elagabal]] as the chief deity of the [[Roman pantheon]], possibly on the date of the [[winter solstice]].{{sfn|Kienast|1990|pp=165–170}} In his official titulature, Elagabalus was then entitled in {{Langx|la|sacerdos amplissimus dei invicti Soli Elagabali, pontifex maximus|lit=highest priest of the unconquered god, the Sun Elgabal, supreme pontiff}}.{{sfn|Kienast|1990|pp=165–170}} That a foreign god should be honored above [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]], with Elagabalus himself as chief priest, shocked many Romans.{{sfn|Icks|2011|pp=14–15}}

As a token of respect for Roman religion, however, Elagabalus joined either [[Astarte]], [[Minerva]], [[Urania]], or some combination of the three to Elagabal as consort.{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=63}} A union between Elagabal and a traditional goddess would have served to strengthen ties between the new religion and the imperial cult. There may have been an effort to introduce Elagabal, Urania, and Athena as the new [[Capitoline Triad]] of Rome—replacing Jupiter, [[Juno (mythology)|Juno]], and Minerva.{{sfn|Icks|2011|pp=32–33}}

He aroused further discontent when he married the [[Vestal Virgin]] [[Aquilia Severa]], Vesta's high priestess, claiming the marriage would produce "godlike children".{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=62}} This was a flagrant breach of Roman law and tradition, which held that any Vestal found to have engaged in sexual intercourse was to be [[buried alive]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vestal Virgins|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vestal-Virgins|access-date=30 August 2020|archive-date=26 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026220341/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vestal-Virgins|url-status=live}}</ref>

A lavish temple called the [[Elagabalium]] was built on the east face of the [[Palatine Hill]] to house Elagabal,{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=54}} who was represented by a black conical [[Baetyl|meteorite]] from Emesa.{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=14}} This was a ''[[baetyl]]''. [[Herodian]] wrote "this stone is worshipped as though it were sent from heaven; on it there are some small projecting pieces and markings that are pointed out, which the people would like to believe are a rough picture of the sun, because this is how they see them".{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=89}}

Dio writes that in order to increase his piety as high priest of Elagabal atop a new Roman pantheon, Elagabalus had himself [[circumcised]] and swore to [[Religious restrictions on the consumption of pork|abstain from swine]].{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=54}} He forced senators to watch while he danced circling the altar of Elagabal to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals.{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=89}} Each summer [[solstice]] he held a festival dedicated to the god, which became popular with the masses because of the free food distributed on these occasions.{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=49}} During this festival, Elagabalus placed the black stone on a [[chariot]] adorned with gold and jewels, which he paraded through the city:{{sfn|Icks|2011|pp=59–60}}

{{Blockquote|text=A six horse chariot carried the divinity, the horses huge and flawlessly white, with expensive gold fittings and rich ornaments. No one held the reins, and no one rode in the chariot; the vehicle was escorted as if the god himself were the charioteer. Elagabalus ran backward in front of the chariot, facing the god and holding the horses' reins. He made the whole journey in this reverse fashion, looking up into the face of his god.{{sfn|Herodian|loc=[https://www.livius.org/sources/content/herodian-s-roman-history/herodian-5.6 Book 5.6.7]}} }}

The most sacred relics from the Roman religion were transferred from their respective shrines to the Elagabalium, including the emblem of the [[Cybele|Great Mother]], the fire of [[Vesta (mythology)|Vesta]], the [[Ancile|Shields]] of the [[Salii]], and the [[Palladium (mythology)|Palladium]], so that no other god could be worshipped except in association with Elagabal.{{sfn|Icks|2011|p=113}} Although his native cult was widely ridiculed by contemporaries, sun-worship was popular among the soldiers and would be promoted by several later emperors.{{sfn|Meckler}}