 In order to become the high priest of his new religion , Elagabalus had himself circumcised . He forced senators to watch while he danced around the altar of Deus Sol Invictus to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals . Each summer solstice he held a festival dedicated to the god , which became popular with the masses because of the free food distributed on such occasions . During this festival , Elagabalus placed the Emesa stone on a chariot adorned with gold and jewels , which he paraded through the city : 
