The Black Stone Of The Syrian God Elagabal

The Black Stone of the Syrian god Elagabal - Ancient Roman coin

This Roman provincial coin was issued at Emesa, Syria during the reign of the
emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161).

The reverse depicts the Black Stone of Emesa, which was worshiped in Syria
as the god Elagabal.



The stone is believed to be a meteorite. Such stones were very important in
the Syrian-Phoenician religion.

Elagabal had always been worshipped with much pomp and devotion, accompanied
by music and dancing. He had no statue, but was venerated as a
black stone with a round base and a pointed top. On coins, it is
usually shown with an eagle spreading its wings over the object in a
protective way.

The cult of Elagabal was later introduced into Rome by the emperor
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (AD 218-222) who was later known as
Elagabalus, after his stone.

In Rome, the god Elagabal was also known as Sol Invictus (the invincible sun).

Sol Invictus later became a major god of Rome in the 4th century,
and his birthday of December 25 is still celebrated in some places.

More information:
http://www.livius.org/ei-er/elagabal/elagabal.html

:)