- Julius Avitus
Julius Avitus or his full name Gaius Julius Avitus Alexianus, was a Syrian noble that lived in the
2nd century and3rd century . He originally came from Emesa (modernHoms ,Syria ). Avitus was originally, a Roman knight who became a man of consular rank. He became Roman Governor ofAsia ,Mesopotamia andCyprus .Avitus married
Julia Maesa , the first daughter of GaiusJulius Bassianus , a high priest of the "Temple of the Sun". The temple was dedicated to the Syrian Aramaean Sun God "El-Gebal" (counterpart to the PhoenicianBaal ) in Emesa. Maesa’s younger sister would be future Roman EmpressJulia Domna . Avitus would be the future brother-in-law of futureRoman Emperor LuciusSeptimius Severus and uncle in marriage to Maesa’s nephews, future Roman EmperorsCaracalla andPublius Septimius Geta .Maesa bore Avitus two daughters and they were:
*Julia Soaemias Bassiana, mother to future Roman EmperorElagabalus
*Julia Avita Mamaea , mother to future Roman EmperorAlexander Severus His daughters were born and raised in Emesa. The altar of Avitus can be seen at [http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~arch/mitt/m097-3.htm]
ources:
* http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0444.html
* http://www.livius.org/jo-jz/julia/julia_maesa.html
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