Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus

Marcus Julius Gessius Bassianus[1] (flourished 3rd century) was a Magister (master) in the Arval Brethren during the reign of Roman emperor Caracalla who ruled from 212 until 217.[1]

Bassianus seems to be linked to the Julii and the Bassiani.[2] From his name, could point to him as a possible son of the Syrian Roman nobles Marcus Julius Gessius Marcianus and Julia Avita Mamaea,[3] being a possible brother of Roman emperor Alexander Severus[4] and his sister, Theoclia.[4][5] If this is correct, Bassianus was a relation to the Royal family of Emesa and the Severan dynasty of the Roman Empire.[6] He may then have been born about 190, first son of his very freshly married parents.[7]

Bassianus was not a known Priest of the cult of Elagabalus.[8] Although he was a Roman Priest, was unable to attend the ceremonies of the Arval Brethren in Rome, probably due to Bassianus being based in the East.[4]

  1. ^ a b Prado, The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction?, p. xxiii
  2. ^ Prado, The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction?, p. 216
  3. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, pp. 217, 222
  4. ^ a b c Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor, p. 222
  5. ^ Augustan History, "The Two Maximini", 29
  6. ^ Birley, Septimius Severus: The African Emperor
  7. ^ Chausson, François (1997). "Theoclia sœur de Sévère Alexandre". Mélanges de l'école française de Rome. 109 (2): 659–690. doi:10.3406/mefr.1997.2001.
  8. ^ Prado, The Emperor Elagabalus: Fact or Fiction?, p. 215