The debate over whether the Roman emperor Heliogabalus was trans has divided scholars
Photo: PHAS / BBC News Brasil
A museum is set to rename its exhibition about a Roman emperor after concluding that he was actually a trans woman.
The North Hertfordshire Museum will now refer to Emperor Elagabalus using the female pronouns “she” and “her”.
This comes after classical texts claim that the emperor once said, “Do not call me sir, for I am a lady.”
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A museum spokesperson said it was “polite and respectful to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people from the past.”
The museum has a Heliogabalus coin that is often displayed alongside other LGBTQIA+ items in its collection.
The spokesperson said LGBTQIA+ charity Stonewall had been consulted to ensure “exhibitions, advertising and talks are as current and inclusive as possible”.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, better known as Heliogabalus, ruled the Roman Empire for only four years, from 218 AD until his assassination at the age of 18 in 222 AD.
During his short reign, he became an increasingly controversial figure and gained a reputation for sexual promiscuity.
Cassius Dio, senator and contemporary of Elagabalus, writes in his historical chronicles that the emperor was married five times four times to women and once to Hiercoles, a former slave and charioteer.
In this last marriage, Dio writes, the emperor “was granted marriage and was made wife, mistress and queen.”
The debate over Elagabalus’ gender identity has long been ongoing and often divides academics.
Shushma Malik, professor of classics at Cambridge University, told the BBC that “the words Dio uses are not a direct quote from Elagabalus and the emperor was in his early teens at the time of writing.”
“There are many examples in Roman literature from times when effeminate language and words were used to criticize or undermine a political figure.”
“References that Elagabalus wore makeup, wigs, and removed body hair may have been written to undermine the unpopular emperor.”
Malik added that while the Romans were aware of gender fluidity and there are examples of changing pronouns in literature, “they were generally used in reference to myths and religions rather than to describe living people.”
However, Councilor Keith Hoskins, executive member for business and arts at North Herts Council, said texts such as Dio’s provide evidence “that Elagabalus definitely preferred the pronoun ‘they’ and as such this is something we are discussing in the “We think about it today and discuss it.” Faith is common practice elsewhere.”
“We know that Elagabalus identified himself as a woman and made it clear which pronouns he should use, showing that pronouns are not a new thing,” he added.
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