Little is known about the origins of Marcellus, other than he was born and raised in the city of Apamea in Syria.[3] Marcellus was a Roman citizen from the Equestrian order.[4]
From 205 to about 207, Marcellus was a Procurator for the Roman aqueducts[2] in Rome, a position usually given to Romans of Senatorial rank, not from the Equestrian class. Marcellus was paid about 100,000 sesterces per year.[2]
Marcellus proved his worth and capabilities in his position to Emperor Severus and his family. In 208 the emperor promoted him to Procurator of Roman Britain and in this position he was responsible for gathering taxes for Rome. He earned 200,000 sesterces in this role.[2] Later he was promoted by the emperor to managing the finances of Roman Britain earning 300,000 sesterces.[2]
In 211 after the death of Lucius Septimius Severus, his sons Caracalla and Publius Septimius Geta succeeded their father on the Roman throne. Caracalla recalled Marcellus from Roman Britain to Rome and briefly placed him in the roles of Praefectus urbi and Praetorian prefect.[2] He was later admitted into the Senate and, soon after, became praefectus of the military treasury.[2] He later became governor of Numidia and held this post until his death.[2]
Their marriage may have taken place in 192 or 194,[2] or even perhaps around 200.[7] Marcellus and Soaemias’ marriage may have been arranged to strengthen Lucius Septimius Severus’ position in the Roman East.[2]
Soaemias and Marcellus bore the following children who were born and raised in Rome:
An unnamed child,[8] who was their first son and child. The first son was named after the unnamed father of Marcellus[2]
Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus,[9] who became the Severan Roman emperor Elagabalus[4] from 218 until 222.[10]
Epigraphic evidence
Inscriptional evidence has survived on Marcellus. After his death in c. 215, his wife Julia Soaemias Bassiana and their two sons, dedicated to him a tombstone which was found in Velletri, not far from Rome.[2] The tombstone has two preserved bilingual inscriptions in Latin and Greek, which were first published at Rome in 1765.[2] The inscriptions reveal his political career, his various titles, designations and distinctions he received.[2] The tombstone of Marcellus is known to scholars as CIL X, 6569 which can be found in the Octagonal Court in the Vatican Museums and reads:
To Sextus Varius Marcellus
procurator centenarius of the water supply, procurator ducenarius of Britain, procurator
trecenarius of the private purse, acting as praetorian prefect and praefectus urbi,
senator, prefect of the military treasury, commander of the Third legion Augusta,
governor of Numidia,
has Julia Soaemias Bassiana, daughter of Gaius, with her sons,
[dedicated this] to her husband and dearest father.
Marcellus was known in dedicating an inscription to Bel in Vasio (Vaison) in Gaul.[11] The bilingual inscription which is in Greek and Latin on an altar, dedicated by him is honoring Bel in remembrance of the oracles given to him in Apamea.[11]
Posthumous honor
The Baths of Varius (Thermae Varianae) in Rome were named in honor of Marcellus and his second son. Their namesake baths were bestowed upon the place, by the Legio XIII Gemina.[12]
Dark green indicates an emperor of the Severan dynasty
Notes:
Except where otherwise noted, the notes below indicate that an individual's parentage is as shown in the above family tree.
^Birley, Anthony R. (1999). Septimius Severus: The African Emperor. London: Routledge. p. i.
^Burrell, Barbara (2004). Neokoroi: Greek Cities and Roman Emperors. p. 216.
^Burrell, Barbara (2004). Neokoroi: Greek Cities and Roman Emperors. p. 247.
^Icks, Martijn (2011). The Crimes of Elagabalus: The Life and Legacy of Rome's Decadent Boy Emperor. London: I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd. p. 57–58. ISBN978-1-84885-362-1.
^ abGibbon, Edward; Smith, William (1889). The Student's Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. pp. 45–47.
Bibliography:
Birley, Anthony R. (1999). Septimius Severus: The African Emperor. London: Routledge. ISBN0415165911.
Gibbon, Edward; Smith, William (1889). The Student's Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. London: Murray. OCLC 993285639.
^ abBoiy, Late Achaemenid and Hellenistic Babylon, p. 307
^Sextus Varius Marcellus’ article at ancient library
Sources
F. Millar, The Roman Near East: 31 BC-AD 337, Harvard University Press, 1993
J. Hazel, Who's Who in the Roman World, Psychology Press, 2002
A.R. Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, Routledge, 2002
T. Bioy, Late Achaemenid and Hellenistic Babylon, Peeters Publishers, 2004
B. Levick, Julia Domna: Syrian Empress, Routledge, 2007
M. Bunsen, Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire, Infobase Printing, 2009
L. de Arrizabalaga y Prado, The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction?, Cambridge University Press, 2010
January 06, 2023
sextus, varius, marcellus, roman, aristocrat, politician, from, province, syria, contents, family, career, marriage, children, epigraphic, evidence, posthumous, honor, severan, dynasty, family, tree, references, sourcesfamily, career, editlittle, known, about,. Sextus Varius Marcellus 1 c 165 c 215 2 was a Roman aristocrat and politician from the province of Syria 2 Contents 1 Family and career 2 Marriage and children 3 Epigraphic evidence 4 Posthumous honor 5 Severan dynasty family tree 6 References 7 SourcesFamily and career EditLittle is known about the origins of Marcellus other than he was born and raised in the city of Apamea in Syria 3 Marcellus was a Roman citizen from the Equestrian order 4 Marcellus had a long and distinguished political career 4 He was present at the Secular Games in Rome in 204 2 From 200 to 205 like Gaius Julius Avitus Alexianus 2 5 Marcellus did not serve in a significant Roman military or political position probably due to Roman emperor Lucius Septimius Severus views about him being influenced by the Praetorian prefect Gaius Fulvius Plautianus 5 2 When Plautianus was killed in 205 Marcellus career was able to move ahead 2 From 205 to about 207 Marcellus was a Procurator for the Roman aqueducts 2 in Rome a position usually given to Romans of Senatorial rank not from the Equestrian class Marcellus was paid about 100 000 sesterces per year 2 Marcellus proved his worth and capabilities in his position to Emperor Severus and his family In 208 the emperor promoted him to Procurator of Roman Britain and in this position he was responsible for gathering taxes for Rome He earned 200 000 sesterces in this role 2 Later he was promoted by the emperor to managing the finances of Roman Britain earning 300 000 sesterces 2 In 211 after the death of Lucius Septimius Severus his sons Caracalla and Publius Septimius Geta succeeded their father on the Roman throne Caracalla recalled Marcellus from Roman Britain to Rome and briefly placed him in the roles of Praefectus urbi and Praetorian prefect 2 He was later admitted into the Senate and soon after became praefectus of the military treasury 2 He later became governor of Numidia and held this post until his death 2 Marriage and children EditMarcellus married the Syrian Roman noblewoman Julia Soaemias Bassiana who was the first daughter of the powerful Syrian nobles Julia Maesa and Gaius Julius Avitus Alexianus 6 The maternal aunt of Soaemias was the Roman empress Julia Domna her maternal uncle in marriage was the Roman emperor Lucius Septimius Severus her maternal cousins were the Roman emperors Caracalla and Publius Septimius Geta and she was the maternal aunt of the Roman emperor Alexander Severus 2 Through marriage Marcellus was related both to the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire and the royal family of Emesa Syria Their marriage may have taken place in 192 or 194 2 or even perhaps around 200 7 Marcellus and Soaemias marriage may have been arranged to strengthen Lucius Septimius Severus position in the Roman East 2 Soaemias and Marcellus bore the following children who were born and raised in Rome An unnamed child 8 who was their first son and child The first son was named after the unnamed father of Marcellus 2 Sextus Varius Avitus Bassianus 9 who became the Severan Roman emperor Elagabalus 4 from 218 until 222 10 Epigraphic evidence EditInscriptional evidence has survived on Marcellus After his death in c 215 his wife Julia Soaemias Bassiana and their two sons dedicated to him a tombstone which was found in Velletri not far from Rome 2 The tombstone has two preserved bilingual inscriptions in Latin and Greek which were first published at Rome in 1765 2 The inscriptions reveal his political career his various titles designations and distinctions he received 2 The tombstone of Marcellus is known to scholars as CIL X 6569 which can be found in the Octagonal Court in the Vatican Museums and reads To Sextus Varius Marcellus procurator centenarius of the water supply procurator ducenarius of Britain procurator trecenarius of the private purse acting as praetorian prefect and praefectus urbi senator prefect of the military treasury commander of the Third legion Augusta governor of Numidia has Julia Soaemias Bassiana daughter of Gaius with her sons dedicated this to her husband and dearest father Marcellus was known in dedicating an inscription to Bel in Vasio Vaison in Gaul 11 The bilingual inscription which is in Greek and Latin on an altar dedicated by him is honoring Bel in remembrance of the oracles given to him in Apamea 11 Posthumous honor EditThe Baths of Varius Thermae Varianae in Rome were named in honor of Marcellus and his second son Their namesake baths were bestowed upon the place by the Legio XIII Gemina 12 Severan dynasty family tree EditvteSeveran family treeSeptimius MacerGaius Claudius Septimius AperFulvius PiusLucius Septimius SeverusPublius Septimius AperGaius Septimius AperFulvia PiaPublius Septimius GetaSeptimia PollaJulius BassianusSeptimiusPublius Septimius GetaSeptimia OctavillaPaccia Marciana 1 Septimius Severus r 193 211 i Julia Domna 2 Julia MaesaGaius Julius Avitus AlexianusGaius Septimius Severus AperFulvia PlautillaCaracalla r 197 217 ii Geta r 209 211 iii Julia SoaemiasSextus Varius MarcellusJulia Avita MamaeaUnknown iv 2 Julia Cornelia Paula 1 Aquilia Severa 2 and 4 Elagabalus r 218 222 v Annia Faustina 3 Sallustia OrbianaSeverus Alexander r 222 235 v 1 1st spouse 2 2nd spouse 3 3rd spouse 4 4th spouse Dark green indicates an emperor of the Severan dynastyNotes Except where otherwise noted the notes below indicate that an individual s parentage is as shown in the above family tree Birley Anthony R 1999 Septimius Severus The African Emperor London Routledge p i Burrell Barbara 2004 Neokoroi Greek Cities and Roman Emperors p 216 Burrell Barbara 2004 Neokoroi Greek Cities and Roman Emperors p 247 Icks Martijn 2011 The Crimes of Elagabalus The Life and Legacy of Rome s Decadent Boy Emperor London I B Tauris amp Co Ltd p 57 58 ISBN 978 1 84885 362 1 a b Gibbon Edward Smith William 1889 The Student s Gibbon The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire pp 45 47 Bibliography Birley Anthony R 1999 Septimius Severus The African Emperor London Routledge ISBN 0415165911 Gibbon Edward Smith William 1889 The Student s Gibbon The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire London Murray OCLC 993285639 References Edit Hazel Who s Who in the Roman World p 153 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Sextus Varius Marcellus article at Livius org Levick Julia Domna Syrian Empress p 147 a b c Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p 346 a b Birley Septimius Severus The African Emperor p 223 Bunson Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire p 153 Millar The Roman Near East 31 BC AD 337 p 119 Birley Septimius Severus The African Emperor pp 217 222 223 Prado The Emperor Elagabalus Fact or Fiction p 231 Birley Septimius Severus The African Emperor a b Boiy Late Achaemenid and Hellenistic Babylon p 307 Sextus Varius Marcellus article at ancient librarySources EditF Millar The Roman Near East 31 BC AD 337 Harvard University Press 1993 J Hazel Who s Who in the Roman World Psychology Press 2002 A R Birley Septimius Severus The African Emperor Routledge 2002 T Bioy Late Achaemenid and Hellenistic Babylon Peeters Publishers 2004 B Levick Julia Domna Syrian Empress Routledge 2007 M Bunsen Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire Infobase Printing 2009 L de Arrizabalaga y Prado The Emperor Elagabalus Fact or Fiction Cambridge University Press 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sextus Varius Marcellus amp oldid 1058816957, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
