Roman Imperial
Julia Maesa (218-224, grandmother of Elagabal and Alexander Severus), Sestertius, Rome mint
Obverse: diademed and draped bust of Julia Maesa to right
IVLIA MAESA AVGVSTA
Reverse: Pietas standing front, head to left, holding incense box in her left hand and raising her right over altar
PIETAS AVG / S - C
Diameter 31 mm, weight 23.30 g
Julia Maesa was born at Emesa in Syria, daughter of Julius Bassianus, priest of the Sun, sister of Julia Domna and grandmother of Elagabalus. She married Julius Avitus, by whom she had Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, who was the mother of Severus Alexander. She was very wealthy and, when she retired to Emesa at the time of Caracalla 's death, she used that wealth to induce the soldiers to proclaim Elagabalus Emperor. She proceeded to Rome after the defeat of Macrinus and, though against the law, took her seat in the Senate and tried in vain to give good counsel to Elagabalus. She died, regretted, in third year of the reign of Severus Alexander whom she had persuaded Elagabalus to adopt as his successor.
