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The Mad Emperor

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On 8 June AD218, a fourteen-year-old Syrian boy, egged on by his grandmother, led an army to battle in a Roman civil war. Against all expectations, he was victorious.

Varius Avitus Bassianus, known to the modern world as Heliogabalus, was proclaimed emperor. The next four years were to be the strangest in the history of the empire.

Heliogabalus humiliated the prestigious Senators and threw extravagant dinner parties for lower-class friends. He ousted Jupiter from his summit among the gods and replaced him with Elagabal. He married a Vestal Virgin—twice. Rumours abounded that he was a prostitute. In the first biography of Heliogabalus in over half a century, Harry Sidebottom unveils the high drama of sex, religion, power and culture in Ancient Rome as we’ve never seen it before.

©2022 Harry Sidebottom (P)2022 W. F. Howes Ltd Ancient Europe Rome Italy Ancient History
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What can I say, this book can only be described in one way that is true and honest… banger.

Banger

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The time jumps can at times make you lose track, but the theme based storytelling rather than linear timeline storytelling is surprisingly effective. I am amazed with the in depth background and world exploring and explaining that the author goes into. Explaining and expanding on the world we are in, exploring the many possibilities, and justifying his opinions. I learned a lot more than just the life of a single emperor in this book.

A sober look at one of history’s madmen.

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