Julia Domna was Roman empress from 193 to 211 as the wife of Emperor Septimius Severus. She was the first empress of the Severan dynasty. Domna was born in Emesa in Roman Syria to an Arab family of priests of the deity Elagabalus. In 187, she married Severus, who at the time was governor of the Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis. They had two sons, Caracalla and Geta. A civil war over the Roman throne broke out in 193, and shortly afterwards Severus declared himself emperor. The war ended in 197 with the defeat of the last of Severus's opponents.
Bust, Vatican Museums
Coin featuring Domna (IVLIA AVGVSTA).
Relief of Caracalla with Domna as Victoria, National Museum, Warsaw
Lady with her hair dressed in the fashion first set by Julia Domna. The disguised legend reads Amo te ego.
Lucius Septimius Severus was a Roman politician who served as emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna in the Roman province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus was the final contender to seize power after the death of the emperor Pertinax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors.
Roman alabaster and marble bust of Septimius Severus, Musei Capitolini, Rome
Dynastic aureus of Septimius Severus, minted in 202. The reverse feature the portraits of Geta (right), Julia Domna (centre) and Caracalla (left). Inscription: SEVER[US] P[IUS] AVG[USTUS] P[ONTIFEX] M[AXIMUS], TR[IBUNUS] P[LEBIS] X, CO[N]S[UL] III / FELICITAS SAECVLI.
The Severan Tondo, c. 199, Severus, Julia Domna, Caracalla and Geta, whose face is erased (Antikensammlung Berlin)
Roman marble bust of Septimius Severus, early 3rd century AD, Altes Museum
