A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

a native of Apameia, the husband of Julia Soemias, by whom he was the father of Elagabalus. [See genealogical table prefixed to CARACALLA.] He frequently discharged the duties of an imperial procurator, and was admitted into the senate. His various designations, titles, and distinctions, have been preserved in a bilinguar inscription discovered near Velitrae, which was published at Rome in 1765, accompanied by a dissertation, and which are given by Eckhel, vol. vii. p. 245. After him, Elagabalus was originally called Varius Avitus Bassianus, and he gave his name to the Thermae Varianae, placed by Victor in the xiiithl Region. (D. C. 78.30.)

[W.R]