Varian Studies Volume Three

A Varian Symposium

Edited By: Leonardo de Arrizabalaga y Prado

£67.99

Roman emperor Varius (AD 218–222) is far less known than his mythical avatar, Heliogabalus. This book contains studies of the historical emperor, his Syrian sun god Elagabal, and the legendary avatar who thrives in literature, the arts, and popular culture.

Heliogabalus and Elagabalus are names given since late antiquity to the mythical or legendary avatar of Varius Avitus Bassianus. Varius was Roman emperor AD 218–222,…

Heliogabalus and Elagabalus are names given since late antiquity to the mythical or legendary avatar of Varius Avitus Bassianus. Varius was Roman emperor AD 218–222, ruling as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. He was simultaneously High Priest of the Syrian sun god Elagabal. Heliogabalus and Elagabalus, names derived from Elagabal, are often used as misnomers for Varius himself, but more properly designate his avatar, who is far better known than Varius. The Varian avatar, under these and other names, survives and thrives in historiography, as well as in more avowedly creative literature, music, dance, the visual arts, and popular culture.

This book, the third in Varian Studies, is partly based on the Varian Symposium, held in Cambridge in 2005. It contains studies of the historical Varius, of some of his courtiers, of his god Elagabal, and of his avatar, Heliogabalus or Elagabalus.

Leonardo de Arrizabalaga y Prado was educated at the Oratory School and Cambridge University, UK, where he graduated with First Class Honours in English, and became Lector in Spanish. He taught in Madrid for St. Louis and Suffolk Universities, USA, and in Japan, at Tokyo, Ueno Gakuen, and Tsukuba Universities. He published Studia Variana from 1999 to 2006, and held a Varian Symposium at Trinity College, Cambridge University, in 2005. His publications include The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction? (2010), Varian Studies, Volume One: Varius (2017), and Varian Studies Volume Two: Elagabal (2017).