Elagabalus
/ˌɛləˈɡæbələs/noun
Elagabalus was the Roman name of a Syrian sun deity and the nickname of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who reigned from 218 to 222 CE.
Did you know?The deity Elagabal was worshipped at Emesa through a sacred black conical stone, which the emperor transported to Rome and installed in a grand temple.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ʔilāh
“A god or deity; the root behind several Semitic words for divine beings.”
1st Millennium BCE
Aramaic
ʾEl-Gabal
“A divine name commonly interpreted as “God of the Mountain,” associated with the Syrian city of Emesa.”
1st–3rd Century CE
Syriac/Aramaic
Ilāhā Gabal
“A form of the name used in the religious world of Roman Syria, referring to the mountain-associated solar deity.”
3rd Century CE
Latin
Elagabalus
“The Latinized name of the Syrian deity and the imperial name adopted by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.”
218–222 CE
Roman Latin
Elagabalus
“The name by which the emperor is known; during his reign, he promoted the deity’s cult at Rome.”
Modern English
English
Elagabalus
“The standard English name for the deity and for the Roman emperor associated with its worship.”
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