Elagabalus (deity)
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Elagabalus, Aelagabalus, Heliogabalus or simply Elagabal was an Arab-Roman sun god, initially venerated in Emesa, Syria. Although there were many variations of the name, the god was consistently refer
The temple at Emesa, containing the holy stone (baetyl), on the reverse of this provincial bronze coin by Roman usurper Uranius (253–254 AD)
Baetyl
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A baetyl, literally "house of god", is a sacred stone that was venerated and thought to house a god or deity. The most famous example is the Omphalos stored in the Temple of Apollo at the Greek town o
Elagabalus (deity)
…Greeks and Elagabalus by the Romans. For example, a dedication has been found as far away as Woerden, in the modern-day Netherlands. The cult stone or baetyl was taken to Rome by the Emperor Elagabalus, who, before his accession, was the hereditary high priest at Emesa and was commonly called Elagabalus after…
The Emesa temple to the sun god Elagabalus with baetyl at centre. Roman coin of 3rd century AD.
Depiction of Jacob's dream sleeping on a stone at Bethel, by José de Ribera
The baetyl of Aphrodite at Palaepaphos, described by Tacitus.