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Heliogabalus or Elagabalus, divine name of Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antonius Augustus, originally Varius Avitus Bassianus AD204-22
Roman emperor

Born in Emesa, Syria, he was appointed High Priest of the Syro-Phoenician sun god Elagabal, and assumed the name of that deity. In AD218 he was proclaimed emperor by the army and defeated his rival Macrinus on the borders of Syria and Phoenicia. His brief reign was marked by extravagant homosexual orgies and intolerant promotion of the god Elagabal (Baal). He was murdered by the praetorians in a palace revolution.