Famous Ancient Mothers

Julia Soaemias was the daughter of Julia Maesa and Julius Avitus, wife of Sextus Varius Marcellus, and mother of Roman Emperor Elagabalus.

Julia Soaemias (180 - March 11, 222) was the cousin of the Roman emperor Caracalla. After Caracalla was assassinated, Macrinus claimed the imperial purple, but Julia Soaemias and her mother contrived to make her son Elagabalus (born Varius Avitus Bassianus) emperor by claiming that Caracalla had actually been the father. Julia Soaemias was given the title Augusta, and coins were minted showing her portrait. Elagabalus had her take a place in the Senate, at least according to the Historia Augusta. The Praetorian Guard killed both Julia Soaemias and Elagabalus in 222. Later, Julia Soaemias' public record was erased (damnatio memoriae).

Reference:

• The Titulature of Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea: Two Notes, by Herbert W. Benario Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association © 1959

1. _Penelope
2. _Medea
3. _Cybele
4. _Veturia
5. _Cornelia
6. _Agrippina
7. _Helena
8. _{Galla Placidia}
9. _Pulcheria
10. _{Julia Domna}
11. _{Julia Soaemias}

_{Picture: Julia Soaemias
© Trustees of the British Museum, produced by Natalia Bauer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme.}