Julia Soaemias. Augusta AD 218-222. Rome
Denarius AR

18 mm, 2,39 g

IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG, draped bust right / VENVS CAELESTIS, Venus seated left, holding apple and sceptre; at left, child reaches up to her.

Very Fine

RIC 243 (Elagabalus).

Julia Soaemias was a Roman empress and the mother of Emperor Elagabalus (also known as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus). She was born in AD 180 to Julia Maesa, who was the sister of the powerful Roman empress Julia Domna, wife of Emperor Septimius Severus. Julia Soaemias' rise to prominence came when her mother, Julia Maesa, orchestrated the ascension of her young son, Elagabalus, to the imperial throne in AD 218. At the time, the Roman Empire was going through a period of political instability and military crisis, and Julia Maesa saw an opportunity to gain influence by having her grandson, Elagabalus, become the emperor. Once Elagabalus was on the throne, Julia Soaemias was given the title of Augusta, making her an empress. However, her reign alongside her son was marked by scandal and controversy. Elagabalus was notorious for his extravagant lifestyle, religious practices, and debauchery, and Julia Soaemias was often accused of encouraging and supporting his excesses. The reign of Elagabalus and Julia Soaemias was short-lived and faced significant opposition from the Roman military and the Senate. In AD 222, after only four years in power, Elagabalus and Julia Soaemias were overthrown in a coup orchestrated by the Praetorian Guard. Both mother and son were killed, and their bodies were decapitated, stripped and dragged through Rome. Afterwards they were thrown into the Tiber River.