Headline: UK Museum Sparks Debate by Declaring Roman Emperor Elagabalus Transgender
Lead: The North Hertfordshire Museum in the UK has stirred controversy by declaring that Elagabalus, a Roman emperor from the third century, identified as transgender. The museum plans to refer to Elagabalus using female pronouns and emphasizes that their decision is rooted in respecting historical figures. However, some historians dispute the claim, suggesting that effeminate language was used to tarnish the emperor’s reputation. This announcement has ignited a debate over the interpretation of Elagabalus’ gender identity.
In an effort to be respectful to historical figures, the North Hertfordshire Museum has chosen to use she and her pronouns when referring to Elagabalus. The museum’s decision is based on an ancient coin depicting the ruler during her reign, as well as accounts by Roman historian Cassius Dio. According to Dio’s writings, Elagabalus demanded to be referred to as a wife, mistress, and queen, and sought sex reassignment surgery unsuccessfully during their teenage years.
The museum consulted LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall and trade union Unison to ensure that their displays and lessons are inclusive and up-to-date. However, skepticism remains among some historians. University of Cambridge classics professor Dr. Shushma Malik argues that effeminate descriptions of Elagabalus may have been used to undermine the emperor’s reputation. Dr. Malik suggests that historians’ writings about Elagabalus were driven by hostility towards the ruler, and should be approached with caution.
Another Cambridge professor, Andrew Wallace-Hadrill, points out that the Romans considered accusing a man of sexual behavior as a woman to be one of the worst insults. This raises questions about the accuracy and intentions behind the historical accounts of Elagabalus’ life. University of Manchester professor Christian Laes adds that much of the criticism towards Elagabalus stems from prejudice against their oriental origins and beliefs.
Elagabalus was assassinated at the age of 18 in 222 AD. The Telegraph claims that historical accounts suggest the emperor’s gender fluidity and sexual preferences were used to justify the assassination. However, the North Hertfordshire Museum refutes this claim, stating that the main reason for Elagabalus’ murder was their role as a high priestess in a rival religion that was promoted over the official state religion.
The debate surrounding Elagabalus’ gender identity sheds light on the challenges and controversies of assigning modern identities to historical figures. It also raises important questions about the bias and interpretation of historical accounts. As the discussion continues, the North Hertfordshire Museum’s decision to identify Elagabalus as transgender serves as a thought-provoking step towards inclusivity in the study of history.
