Otho, Elagabalus and The Judgement of Paris: the literary construction of the unmanly emperor

Abstract

The paper compares the literary image of Otho (in Suetonius, Tacitus, Plutarch, and Cassius Dio) and Elagabalus (in Herodian, Cassius Dio and the Vita Heliogabali); this comparison is based on a passage of the Vita Heliogabali that connects the two emperors. The author explores the reasons of this connection, which appears to be grounded in certain similarities found in their biographies (such as their relation with marriage, their effeminacy, their love of luxus, and their impiety) as well as in certain similar political choices, particularly in their dealings with the army. The paper also explores the meaning of the connection made by the sources between both emperors and the story of the Trojan prince Paris, since Otho is compared to Paris and Elagabalus to Venus 'in the story of Paris'. These connections link the two emperors to the most negative aspects of the Trojan legend, which had been the founding myth of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Finally, the author highlights how both Otho and Elagabalus are portrayed according to the cliché of the unmanly oriental prince and to Roman gender stereotypes. Also, it is noted how the sources suggests that both emperors attempt to locate themselves on a superhuman level.