Julia Maesa coins Roman Imperial catalog
Empress Julia Maesa (?-223), grandmother of Elagabal and Alexander Severus
Julia Mesa came from the influential family
of the priest of the sun god Elagabalus of Emesa in the province
of Syria.
Mesa married the consul Gaius Julius Avitus Alexianus. They had
two daughters, Julia Mameia and Julia Soemia.
In 193, her younger sister Julia Domna married Septimius
Severus, who became emperor the same year. The family moved to
Rome.
After Severus' death in 211, his son Lucius Septimius Bassianus
(Caracalla) became emperor, and after his assassination in 217.
- Macrinus.
Mesa's husband died before 217.
Julia Domna, who had lost her husband and son, starved herself
to death.
Macrinus did not touch Julia Mesa and even kept all her property
(but ordered her to return to Syria), which did not prevent her
from agitating the soldiers against him. Julia's 14-year-old son
Bassianus, called Elagabalus, was a priest of the local sun god,
whose huge temple the surrounding kings generously sponsored.
There was a legionary camp nearby and the soldiers, impressed by
the wealth, spread the rumor, started by Mesa, that Elagabalus
was the illegitimate son of Caracalla, adding that "the old
woman had a lot of money" which she would gladly share with the
legionaries if they would help restore power to her family.
The legionaries revolted and Macrinus was defeated and killed.
In 218. Heliogabalus (as he was also called in Greek) was
proclaimed emperor by the Senate, Caracalla and Julia Domna were
deified, and Julia Mesa and Julia Soemia were given the titles
of Augusta.
As a result, it was Julia Mesa who ruled the state. Elagabalus
indulged in debauchery and madness, his mother was not lagging
behind. Realizing that such power will not last long, Mesa
persuaded Elagabalus to adopt and declare Caesar cousin
Alexander (son of her second daughter Mamea).
Eventually the Romans got tired of the constant bullying and the
emperor was killed along with his mother on March 11, 222.
Alexander Severus became emperor.
It is not known how much Julia Mesa grieved for her daughter and
grandson, but she lived quite well, died a few years later in
the palace and was deified.
IVLIA MAESA AVG
SAECVLI FELICITAS
denarius 218-222
silver
20 mm.
Rome
Draped bust right / Julia Maesa Augusta
Felicitas standing left, sacrifices on the altar, in the left hand caduceus / The Age of Happiness
Value - $60-80
Coins of Julia Maesa in the catalog are presented divided by historical periods, indicating the main characteristics and differences by type.
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