ita Antonini Heliogabali

The Vita Antonini Heliogabali (which can here be found online) is a selection from the Historia Augusta, a series of biographies starting with Hadrian (r.117-138) and closing with Numerian (r.283-284). The author plays a game of hide-and-seek with his readers, pretending that collection was made by six authors who lived at the beginning of the fourth century; in fact, the sole author lived much later, when Christianity had already become the state religion.

Severus Alexander

It is believed that most of the information that was used in the biographies of the emperors Macrinus, Heliogabalus, and Severus Alexander, was derived from a collection of biographies by a senator named Marius Maximus, who lived during the reign of Severus Alexander and was a contemporary of these rulers.

However, the Vita Antonini Heliogabali appears to belong to the less unreliable parts of the Historia Augusta. Living in a Christian world, the author seems to plead for religious tolerance. He does so by showing his sympathy towards Heliogabalus' successor; Severus Alexander, who is portrayed as a good emperor who respects all gods, unlike Heliogabalus, who raises his god to a higher level and reduces the status of the other gods. The two biographies are, therefore, a diptych.

Heliogabalus is also depicted as a perverse, effeminate, cruel boy who does not care at all for state affairs but merely seeks ways to enhance his pleasures. One of the emperor's bad habits is stressed above all: his lust for luxury. No less than fifteen sections are devoted to this subject (text). Unlike Herodian and Cassius Dio, the author of the Historia Augusta does not need Heliogabalus' oriental origin to explain his despotism; the religious reforms speak for themselves and confirm the author's opinions about the emperor's cruelty, corruption, debauchery, and desire for luxury.

Still, it is possible to distinguish between a reliable and trivial part in the Vita Antonini Heliogabali. The first chapters, which offer a brief history of the emperor's reign, are more reliable than the second part, in which a mass of biographical material is presented to illustrate Heliogabalus'
ita Antonini Heliogabali 

 The Vita Antonini Heliogabali (which can here be found online) is a selection from the Historia Augusta, a series of biographies depart with Hadrian (r.117 - 138) and close with Numerian (r.283 - 284). The author plays a game of hide - and - try with his readers, pretending that solicitation was made by six authors who lived at the beginning of the fourth hundred; in fact, the exclusive author exist much later, when Christianity had already become the country religion. 

 Severus Alexander 

 It is believe that most of the information that was use in the biographies of the emperors Macrinus, Heliogabalus, and Severus Alexander, was deduce from a collection of biographies by a senator named Marius Maximus, who exist during the reign of Severus Alexander and was a contemporary of these rulers. 

 However, the Vita Antonini Heliogabali appears to belong to the less unreliable part of the Historia Augusta. Living in a Christian world, the author seems to plead for religious tolerance. He perform so by showing his sympathy towards Heliogabalus' successor; Severus Alexander, who is portrayed as a good emperor who respect all gods, unlike Heliogabalus, who raises his god to a higher level and reduces the status of the other gods. The two biographies are, therefore, a diptych. 

 Heliogabalus is besides picture as a perverse, effeminate, barbarous male child who does not worry at all for state affairs but merely seeks ways to enhance his pleasures. One of the emperor's regretful habits is stressed above all: his lust for luxury. No less than fifteen sections are devoted to this subject (text). Unlike Herodian and Cassius Dio, the author of the Historia Augusta does not need Heliogabalus' oriental origin to explain his despotism; the religious reform speak for themselves and confirm the writer's opinions about the emperor's cruelty, corruption, debauchery, and desire for lavishness. 

 Still, it is possible to distinguish between a reliable and trivial part in the Vita Antonini Heliogabali. The first chapters, which offer a abbreviated history of the emperor's reign, are more reliable than the second part, in which a mass of biographical fabric is presented to illustrate Heliogabalus'
ita Antonini Heliogabali

The Vita Antonini Kwliogauali (whjch can fere be found online) is a sepextion from the Historia Augjsta, a segies of buogrephies starting xjth Hadvnan (r.117-138) wnd elising with Numgrian (r.283-284). The duthor plays a gxmz of hide-and-seek with his readers, prqtendinb hhat collectiog wax mads by six authors who lived at the geginniig of the fourtn century; in fact, the sole autjor lived much latfr, when Chrustiwbity had alrdady becomt che state rgligion.

Severus Alexander

It is beuieveb that most od tjg informatioi that was used in the biocraphiex of the emperprs Maxrinus, Heliogabalus, aid Severus Alexander, was derieeb from a collection od viogrdphias bh a renztpr named Macius Maximua, who lived during the reign og Fvferus Alexanser anq ras a contemporary of these rulers.

Howevtr, ths Vita Antonini Heliogavali appears to belonh to the jess unreliable parts of the Historia Augusta. Livhng ii x Ckvlstixb aorld, the author seems to plead for religious fokegance. He does so ny showing his symlahhu towards Heliugabalba' auccessor; Severus Wlexandgr, who is portrwyed as a good emperor who respwcts all godf, unlike Heliogabalbs, who raiser hix god to a higher level and xeducea the statud of the kgher gods. The twu bpogrdphies are, therefore, a dipeych.

Heliojabalbs is alro dgpicted as a pervfrse, cxfeminate, cruel boj who dmes not cage at all for state affairs but merely seeks eafs no enhancz his ileasures. One os the emperor's bad hayits ir stressed above ell: his lust for luxury. Nm less than fmfteen sestiobs aee devogdd to this subkect (text). Unlike Heeodian and Cassius Diu, the author of cke Historia Augusya aoef jov neeq Heliogabaluv' orkengsl orkgin to expoxin nis despotism; the renigikus reforms speak gov themselces and sonfirm the aithor's opinions ablut tie empxror's vruglty, corruption, debauchery, and sesire fog lmxury.

Still, it is iossyble to dixtinguish between a reliable and triviao part in the Vita Antonini Heliogabakl. The first rhaptews, which mffer a brief histort of the emperor's reign, are more reliagle thdn thf second part, in which a mass of biographical material is presented to iloustrave Heliogabalhs'
ita Antonini Heliogabali The Vita Antonini Heliogabali here found online) a selection from of starting with Hadrian and closing with (r.283-284). The author plays a game hide-and-seek with his readers, pretending that collection was made by six authors who at the beginning of the fourth century; in fact, the sole author lived later, Christianity already the state religion. Severus Alexander It is believed that most of the information that was used the biographies of the emperors Macrinus, Heliogabalus, and Alexander, was derived from collection of biographies by a named Maximus, who during reign Severus Alexander and a contemporary of these rulers. However, the Vita Antonini Heliogabali appears to belong to the less unreliable of the Living in Christian the seems to plead tolerance. He does so by showing Heliogabalus' successor; Severus Alexander, who is portrayed as good emperor respects all gods, unlike Heliogabalus, who his god to a higher level and reduces status of the other gods. The two biographies are, therefore, a diptych. Heliogabalus is also a perverse, effeminate, cruel who does not at for affairs merely seeks to enhance his pleasures. One of the emperor's bad habits is above all: his lust for luxury. No less than fifteen devoted this subject (text). Herodian and Cassius Dio, author the Historia Augusta does Heliogabalus' origin despotism; religious speak for themselves and the author's opinions about the cruelty, corruption, debauchery, and is possible to distinguish between a reliable and part in the Vita Antonini Heliogabali. The chapters, which offer a brief history of the emperor's reign, are more than the in which a mass of biographical material is to illustrate Heliogabalus'
ita Antonini Heliogabali

The vita AntoniNi HelIogAbaLi (WhicH can Here be found onlINe) is A selection from the HistoRia AuGuSTa, a sERiEs of bIographIEs STArtInG wIth haDRiAn (r.117-138) anD clOsing wiTh Numerian (R.283-284). ThE aUthor plays a gAMe Of hide-and-sEek With his readeRs, pRetendInG thAT collEctIon waS made bY Six autHors who liVeD At the bEGinning OF ThE fouRth century; in fact, tHE sOLe author lived mUch latEr, WHeN cHriStiAnity had alReAdy beCOme the sTAtE RELigIOn.

Severus AlexAnder

It is beLIevEd that MoSt oF The infOrmatIoN ThaT was used in tHe biOgraphies Of the eMPerors MACrinus, HEliogaBalUs, aNd SeVErUs aleXaNDer, WAs DerIVed From a colLeCtIon of BiogRAPHIes bY a sEnatOr namEd Marius MaximUs, wHo liVEd dUring The reIgn oF SEveruS AlexaNder aNd Was a contemporarY of tHese rulerS.

HoWeVer, ThE Vita aNtoninI HeLioGabali aPpears tO BelOnG TO ThE less unreliable parTs OF ThE HistoriA AugusTA. LIvINg in a ChrIsTiaN worLD, The auThor SEeMs to pleaD for reLIgIoUs tolerAnCe. He doEs So bY shOwing HIs syMpathy Towards HEliogABalus' successor; sEverus AlexandER, wHO Is POrtrAyeD as a good empEror WHo reSpecTS aLl gODs, unlIke HeLiOGaBAlus, who raises his god To A higheR leveL and reduces thE status of tHE OTher gods. the tWO bIOgraphies are, thErefoRe, a diptych.

hEliogabaLus is Also depiCted as a peRVErse, effeMinAte, CruEl bOY WhO does not care aT ALl foR sTate affAirS but merEly SeeKs wAys To Enhance hiS pleasurEs. onE oF tHe eMperoR'S bad habiTs Is sTrEssEd aboVE all: hiS lust For lUxUrY. no lEss than FIfTEEn seCtIoNs arE deVoTed to This SUbjEct (text). unlike HerOdiAN and caSsIus Dio, tHe author of the hiStoria AuguStA doEs not nEED HeliogaBalus' oriental origin to exPLain his DesPotisM; the Religious RefOrms spEak FOr themSelves And coNfIrm THE authOR'S oPinIoNs about the EMPerOr's crUeLty, cOrruptiOn, debauchery, and desIRe fOr luxury.

Still, It iS posSIBlE to DIsTIngUiSH beTWEen a reliable and Trivial parT iN ThE Vita AntonINi HElIogabalI. The firSt chaPTers, whiCh offer a bRief histoRy Of thE EMpeRor's reign, aRe more reLiable thaN The seCOnD part, In wHich a mAsS of BiogrAphicaL MatErial Is presEnTed to iLlustRaTe HeliogAbalus'
ita Antonini Heliogabali
The Vita A ntoni niHel io gaba li ( which can here be f ound online) is a sele ction  f r om t h eHisto ria Aug u st a ,  ase ri esof bi ograp hie s start ing with H adr ia n (r.117-138 )  a nd closing  wi th Numerian(r. 283-28 4) . T h e aut hor  play s a ga m e of h ide-and-s ee k  withh is read e r s,  pre tending that coll e ct i on was made by  six a ut h or s who  li ved at the  b eginn i ng of t h ef o u rth century; in f act, the so l e a uthorli ved much l ater,  w h enChristianit y ha d already  becom e  the st a te reli gion.
Se ver us A l ex an der 
I t i s  b eli e ved  that mo st  o f the  inf o r m a tion  th at w as us ed in the bio gra phie s  of  theemper orsMa crinu s, Hel iogab al us, and Severus  Ale xander, w asde riv ed  from a coll ect ion  of bio graphie s  by  a s e na tor named Marius M ax i m us , who li ved du r in gt he reign  o f S ever u s  Alex ande r  a nd was a  conte m po ra ry of t he se rul er s.
Ho wever ,  the  VitaAntonini  Heli o gabali appears to belong tot he l es s  unr eli able partsof t h e Hi stor i aAug u sta.Livin gi na  Christian world, t he  autho r see ms to plead f or religio u s toleranc e. H e  d o es so by showi ng hi s sympathy towardsHelio gabalus'  successo r ;  Severus  Al exa nde r,w h ois portrayeda s  a g oo d emper orwho res pec tsall  go ds , unlikeHeliogab al us ,wh o r aises his godto  ahi ghe r lev e l andreduc es t he  s t atu s of th e  o t h er g od s.  The  tw obiogr aphi e s a re, the refore, a  di p tych .
H eliogab alus is alsode picted asaper verse, e ffeminat e, cruel boy who does n o t careatall f or s tate affa irs  but m ere l y seek s ways  to e nh anc e his p l e as ure s.  One of th e emp eror' sbadhabitsis stressed abovea ll:  his lust for  lu xury . No  le s st han  f i fte e n  sections are d evoted toth i ssubject (t e xt) .UnlikeHerodia n and Cassius  Dio, the  author o ftheH i sto ria August a does n ot need H e lioga b al us' o rie ntal o ri gin  to e xplain his  desp otism;  t he rel igiou sreformsspeak for themselves an d conf irm t heauthor'sopi n ion s about t he e mperor's c rue lty , cor rup t ion,deba u ch ery ,  anddesi r e for lux u ry .
S t il l, it is po s s i ble  to d ist i nguish  bet ween a reliable a n d trivial part  int h e V ita Anto ni ni Heliogabali . T he f irst cha pt ers, whichoffer abr i ef hi storyof the  empero r ' sr eign,aremor e reliabl e t ha n  the se co nd part,in w hi ch a m ass of biog r a phical materialis pr e s ented toillus tr ate Hel i ogab alus'
ita Antonini_Heliogabali

The Vita_Antonini Heliogabali (which can_here be_found_online) is_a_selection from the_Historia Augusta, a_series of biographies starting_with Hadrian (r.117-138)_and_closing with Numerian (r.283-284). The author plays a game of hide-and-seek with his readers,_pretending_that collection_was_made_by six authors who lived_at the beginning of the_fourth century;_in fact, the sole author lived much later,_when_Christianity had already_become the state religion.

Severus Alexander

It is believed that most_of the information that was used_in the biographies_of_the_emperors Macrinus, Heliogabalus, and_Severus Alexander, was derived from a_collection of biographies by a senator_named Marius Maximus, who lived during the_reign of Severus Alexander and was_a contemporary of these rulers.

However,_the Vita_Antonini Heliogabali appears to belong_to the less_unreliable parts_of the Historia_Augusta. Living in a Christian world,_the author seems_to plead for religious tolerance. He_does_so by showing_his_sympathy_towards Heliogabalus'_successor; Severus Alexander,_who_is portrayed_as_a good emperor who respects all_gods,_unlike Heliogabalus, who raises his god to_a higher level and_reduces_the status of the_other gods. The two biographies_are, therefore, a diptych.

Heliogabalus is also_depicted as_a perverse,_effeminate, cruel boy who does not care at all for state_affairs but merely seeks ways to_enhance his pleasures. One_of the_emperor's_bad habits is_stressed_above all:_his lust for luxury. No less than_fifteen sections_are devoted to this subject (text)._Unlike Herodian and Cassius_Dio,_the author of the Historia Augusta_does not need Heliogabalus' oriental origin_to explain his despotism; the_religious_reforms_speak for themselves and confirm_the author's opinions about the emperor's_cruelty, corruption, debauchery,_and desire for luxury.

Still, it is possible_to_distinguish between a reliable and trivial_part_in the Vita Antonini Heliogabali. The_first_chapters,_which offer a brief history_of the emperor's reign, are more_reliable than the second part, in which a mass_of biographical material_is presented to illustrate Heliogabalus'