the husband of Julia Maesa, brother-in-law of Julia Domna and Septimius Severus, uncle by marriage of Caracalla, father of Julia Soemias and Julia Mamaea, and maternal grandfather of Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. He was of consular rank, and, as we gather from the fragments of Dio Cassius, governed in succession Asia, Mesopotamia, and Cyprus. From him Elagabalus inherited the name of Avitus--an appellation by which ancient historians frequently distinguish that emperor. (D. C. 88.30, 79.16; Herodian, 5.3.2; see also the genealogical table under CARACALLA.)