Today's featured article
|
|
Elagabalus was a Roman emperor of the Severan dynasty who reigned from 218 to 222. Born in Syria, in his early youth he served as a priest of the god El-Gabal at his hometown Emesa. In 217, the emperor Caracalla was murdered and replaced by his Praetorian prefect Marcus Opellius Macrinus. Caracalla's maternal aunt Julia Maesa successfully instigated a revolt among the Legio III Gallica to have her eldest grandson Elagabalus declared as emperor in his place. Macrinus was defeated on June 8, 218 at the Battle of Antioch, upon which Elagabalus, barely 14 years old, ascended to the imperial power and began a reign that was marred by controversies. During his rule, Elagabalus showed a disregard for Roman religious traditions and sexual taboos. He was married as many as five times and is reported to have prostituted himself in the imperial palace. Elagabalus replaced Jupiter, head of the Roman pantheon, with a new god, Deus Sol Invictus, and forced leading members of Rome's government to participate in religious rites celebrating this deity, which he personally led. Amidst growing opposition, Elagabalus was assassinated and replaced by his cousin Severus Alexander. Elagabalus developed a reputation among his contemporaries for eccentricity, decadence, and zealotry which was likely exaggerated by his successors. This propaganda was passed on and, as such, he was one of the most reviled Roman emperors to early historians. (more...)
Recently featured: Royal Blue – Super Smash Bros. Melee – Nahuatl
|
Did you know...
|
|
From Wikipedia's newest articles:
- ... that the first generation jet fighters include designs from WWII-era ME-262 (pictured) to Korean War-era F-86?
- ... that the Orton Plantation near Wilmington, North Carolina, was attacked by Native Americans, used as a military hospital, and once owned by a Colonial governor?
- ... that Brazilian actress Carmen Silva was diagnosed with the same illness, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, as actor Oswaldo Louzada, who played her husband on the Brazilian telenovela, Mulheres Apaixonadas?
- ... that scholars disagree on whether the name of the Viking chieftain Jakun means either "blind" or "the handsome one"?
- ... that the climate of North America, extending to within 10° of latitude of both the equator and the North Pole, embraces every climatic zone?
- ... that Safi Faye's 1975 film Kaddu Beykat was the first commercially distributed feature film made by a Sub-Saharan African woman?
|
|
|
In the news
|
- A series of bomb blasts in Jaipur, India, kills at least 80 people.
- An earthquake (epicenter shown on map) measuring 7.9 Mw strikes Sichuan, China, with more than 19,000 people reported dead.
- Sudan cuts diplomatic relations with Chad, blaming it for helping rebels from Darfur to launch an attack on Sudan's capital, Khartoum.
- An international relief operation begins after Cyclone Nargis strikes Burma, with at least 100,000 people reported killed or missing. The Burmese military regime conducts a constitutional referendum days after the cyclone's strike.
- A tornado outbreak in Oklahoma and Missouri, United States, kills at least 25 people.
- Skirmishes between supporters of Lebanon's government and the opposition erupt in Beirut.
|
On this day...
|
|
May 16: Teacher's Day in Malaysia
More events: May 15 – May 16 – May 17
|
|
