The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Elagabalus and the Triad of Emesa: Azizos and Monimos, companions of Sol Invictus Elagabal

Abstract

Through the analysis of the structure of the religious pantheon of the city of Emesa and of several coins specific to the emperor Elagabalus, in this paper we shall try to check whether the individual stars present in these coins could be identified as concrete astronomical facts with a religious significance, applying the parameters established for these studies. In Roman coins, the presence of sym bols of an astronomical nature is very common and has received different interpretations. More precisely, the symbol of the star appears in the coins of different emperors, individually or in greater or lesser numbers. In light of the religious policy of Elagabalus, we might conclude that these stars, depending on their position on the reverses of the studied coins, could be identified with the god Azizos – the morning star – or with the god Monimos – the evening star –, gods accompanying the Sun Invictus Elagabal in the triad of Emesa.