Julius Avitus
Encyclopedia
Julius Avitus or his full name Gaius Julius Avitus Alexianus, was a Syria
n noble that lived in the 2nd century and 3rd century CE. He was born in Emesa (modern Homs
, Syria
). Originally a knight, Avitus gained consular rank, becoming the proconsul of the Roman Province of Asia
.
Avitus married Julia Maesa
, the first daughter of Gaius Julius Bassianus
, a high priest of the Temple of the Sun. The temple was dedicated to the Syrian Aramaean Sun God El-Gebal (counterpart to the Phoenician Baal
) in Emesa. Maesa’s younger sister would be future Roman Empress Julia Domna
. Avitus would be the future brother-in-law of future Roman Emperor
Lucius Septimius Severus
and uncle in marriage to Maesa’s nephews, future Roman Emperors Caracalla
and Publius Septimius Geta
.
Maesa bore Avitus two daughters and they were:
His daughters were born and raised in Emesa. The altar of Avitus can be seen at http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~arch/mitt/m097-3.htm
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n noble that lived in the 2nd century and 3rd century CE. He was born in Emesa (modern Homs
Homs
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
). Originally a knight, Avitus gained consular rank, becoming the proconsul of the Roman Province of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Avitus married Julia Maesa
Julia Maesa
Julia Maesa was a Roman citizen and daughter of Julius Bassianus, priest of the sun god Heliogabalus, the patron god of Emesa in the Roman province of Syria...
, the first daughter of Gaius Julius Bassianus
Julius Bassianus
Gaius Julius Bassianus or Bassus, also known as Julius Bassianus was a Syrian, who lived in the 2nd century and 3rd century. Bassianus was a high priest for the Temple of the Sun, which was adored in a shape of a black stone. The Aramaean Sun God in Aramaic is El-Gabal. Bassianus was a member of...
, a high priest of the Temple of the Sun. The temple was dedicated to the Syrian Aramaean Sun God El-Gebal (counterpart to the Phoenician Baal
Baal
Baʿal is a Northwest Semitic title and honorific meaning "master" or "lord" that is used for various gods who were patrons of cities in the Levant and Asia Minor, cognate to Akkadian Bēlu...
) in Emesa. Maesa’s younger sister would be future Roman Empress Julia Domna
Julia Domna
Julia Domna was a member of the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire. Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and mother of Emperors Geta and Caracalla, Julia was among the most important women ever to exercise power behind the throne in the Roman Empire.- Family background...
. Avitus would be the future brother-in-law of future Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Lucius Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
and uncle in marriage to Maesa’s nephews, future Roman Emperors Caracalla
Caracalla
Caracalla , was Roman emperor from 198 to 217. The eldest son of Septimius Severus, he ruled jointly with his younger brother Geta until he murdered the latter in 211...
and Publius Septimius Geta
Publius Septimius Geta
Geta , was a Roman Emperor co-ruling with his father Septimius Severus and his older brother Caracalla from 209 to his death.-Early life:Geta was the younger son of Septimius Severus by his second wife Julia Domna...
.
Maesa bore Avitus two daughters and they were:
- Julia SoaemiasJulia SoaemiasJulia Soaemias Bassiana was the mother of Roman Emperor Elagabalus and ruled over the Roman Empire during the minority of her son's rule....
Bassiana, mother to future Roman Emperor ElagabalusElagabalusElagabalus , also known as Heliogabalus, was Roman Emperor from 218 to 222. A member of the Severan Dynasty, he was Syrian on his mother's side, the son of Julia Soaemias and Sextus Varius Marcellus. Early in his youth he served as a priest of the god El-Gabal at his hometown, Emesa... - Julia Avita MamaeaJulia Avita MamaeaJulia Avita Mamaea was the second daughter of Julia Maesa, a powerful Roman woman of Syrian origin and Syrian noble Julius Avitus. She was a niece of empress Julia Domna and emperor Septimius Severus and sister of Julia Soaemias...
, mother to future Roman Emperor Alexander SeverusAlexander SeverusSeverus Alexander was Roman Emperor from 222 to 235. Alexander was the last emperor of the Severan dynasty. He succeeded his cousin Elagabalus upon the latter's assassination in 222, and was ultimately assassinated himself, marking the epoch event for the Crisis of the Third Century — nearly fifty...
His daughters were born and raised in Emesa. The altar of Avitus can be seen at http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~arch/mitt/m097-3.htm
External Links
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0444.html
- http://www.livius.org/jo-jz/julia/julia_maesa.html