 Elagabalus was born around the year 203 to Sextus Varius Marcellus and Julia Soaemias <unk> . His father was initially a member of the <unk> class , but was later elevated to the rank of senator . His grandmother , Julia Maesa , was the widow of the consul Julius Avitus , the sister of Julia Domna , and the sister @-@ in @-@ law of the emperor Septimius Severus . He had at least one sibling : an unnamed elder brother . His mother , Julia Soaemias , was a cousin of the Roman emperor Caracalla . Other relatives included his aunt Julia <unk> Mamaea and uncle Marcus Julius <unk> Marcianus and among their children , their son Severus Alexander . Elagabalus 's family held hereditary rights to the priesthood of the sun god Elagabal , of whom Elagabalus was the high priest at Emesa ( modern Homs ) in Roman Syria . 
