From the modern reader's perspective, the Roman Third Century is one of history's blind spots - we know pretty much what went on during the disastrous third century - a period of decline begun with the death of Septimius Severus and arrested only by the advent of Aurelian, but between these figures (who have been well-biographed) there is a decided lack of literature.To a limited extent, this fills the gap by relating the life histories of Julia Domna (wife of Septimius Severus, daughter of a noble Syrian family and empress until 211 A.D.), her sons Geta and Caracalla (emperor from 211-17), her sister Julia Maesa, niece Julia Soaemias (mother of Emperor Elagabalus, A.D. 218-222) and other niece Julia Mamaea (mother of Alexander Severus, A.D. 222-35). It is generally agreed that no collection of women in Imperial Rome have held such sway as this extraordinary family. This book, however, while competently assembling all the right dates, places, and identities, is somewhat lacking in narrative force. One day someone enterprising will write an entertaining history of this entire century; in the meantime, this is a reasonable account of the first 35 years.
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