Ancient World, Rome, Vestal Virgins, Circus Maximus, Elagabalus
"Vestal Virgins at the Circus Maximus - Reign of Elagabalus"
Elagabalus (nick name) for Marcus Aurelius Antonius (who was born as Sextus Varius Avituus Bassianus) was Emperor of Rome from the year 218 - 222. His reign happened in his teen age years and was notorious for sex scandals and religious controversy (Wikipedia).
Vestal Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, virgin goddess in Ancient Rome.
Photo gravure after the painting by Hector La Roux (1829-1884)
Published by Gebbie & Husson. London, ca. 1890
Original antique print
Very good condition
Image:18,4 x 30,4 cm (ca. 7.2 x 12")
In ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins or Vestals (Latin: Vestālēs, singular Vestālis) were priestesses of Vesta, virgin goddess of Rome's sacred hearth and its flame.
Vesta's priestly college of six priestesses.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (born Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus, c. 204 – 11/12 March 222), better known by his nicknames "Elagabalus" and Heliogabalus was Roman emperor from 218 to 222. His short reign was conspicuous for sex scandals and religious controversy. A close relative to the Severan dynasty, he came from a prominent Arab family in Emesa (Homs), Syria, where since his early youth he served as head priest of the sun god Elagabal. After the death of his cousin, the emperor Caracalla, Elagabalus was raised to the principate at 14 years of age in an army revolt instigated by his grandmother Julia Maesa against Caracalla's short-lived successor, Macrinus.
