File:General biography; or, Lives, critical and historical, of the most eminent persons of all ages, countries, conditions, and professions, arranged according to alphabetical order (1818) (14784546505).jpg

Identifier: generalbiographyv5pt1aiki (find matches)
Title: General biography; or, Lives, critical and historical, of the most eminent persons of all ages, countries, conditions, and professions, arranged according to alphabetical order
Year: 1818 (1810s)
Authors: Aikin, John, 1747-1822 Enfield, William, 1741-1797
Subjects: Biography
Publisher: London : Smeeton
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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se visible form wasa black stone, with him to Rome, and placedhim in a temple on the Palatine mount, whichhe made the centre of all that was sacred in thestate religion. He procured for him the god-dess Astarte, or the moon, as a consort, fromCarthage, and signalised his mad idolatry byevery possible extravagance. The senate wasinsulted by the introduction of the emperorsmother and grandniothcr, the latter of whom,who was not destitute of political talents, gaveher opinion in her place as a member of thebody, and had her name prefixed to its decrees.As for Heliogabalus, he seemed to liavc uoother ambition than to surpass in folly, de-bauchery, and prodigality, the worst of his pre-decessors. Scarcely any of them went so farin violating every sentiment of decency, andsinking the human character to the lowest pitchof degradation. The particulars of his mon-strous vices and extravagances are unfit forsober narration. What, indeed, can be told ofan emperor who assumed the female habit and
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HELIOCABALVS IMP ^ XXIII H K L ( 103 ) H E L cinnncrs, and publicly entert:i.ned lovers, oneof whom WAS invested with the title of hus-band ? In gluttony he exceeded Vitellius him-self, and the revenues of the empire wereinsuITicient to supply his capricious nstes.His favourites were men of the lowest rankand most infamous character; and a dancer,a charioteer, and barber, are named amonghis confidential ministers. All orders of thestate were filled with indignation at subjectionto such a master; and even the soldiers, whocherished the memory of Caracalla, could notendure the ignominy of this successor. Hisgrandmother Mcesa, sensible that such A reigncould not be lasting, prevailed upon the em-peror to adopt her other grandson, his cousinAlexander, the son of Mamvea. Failing in hisattempt to ruin the morals of this prince, heviewed him with hatred, and plotted his de-struction. But the attempt turned againsthimself. The pretorians in a mutiny obligedHeliogabalus to be reconciled with h

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