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Message:: [QUOTE="DonnaML, post: 4554418, member: 110350"]I think that several of your references to Soaemias were intended to be to Aquilia Severa. Who knows how many of these scurrilous stories about Elagabalus's alleged sexual orientation and gender identity are true?  In reading Michael Grant's book about the 12 Caesars, I learned that there were scandalous rumors about all but a few of them claiming that they enjoyed having sex with boys, or, far worse in Romans' viewpoint, men.  As I recall, Claudius may have been one of the only exceptions. And stories about the sexual activities of various empresses were almost as common. But even if the stories about Elagabalus are true, I find it fascinating that anyone would think that the sex- and gender-related activities of a teenager could possibly have made him "the worst" emperor, more than the countless murders (including of their own family members) and genocidal military campaigns (viz., Caesar in Gaul) for which so many others were responsible.  I think it demonstrates the rather Victorian sensibilities of many 19th- and early 20th-century writers about Roman coins and culture. PS: Please, if you can, give the name(s) of any current historian(s) who believe that Elagabalus was anywhere near the top of the list of worst Roman emperors. I doubt that you'll find many, if any at all.[/QUOTE]