Roman Emperor reclassified as trans woman by museum

Elagabalus was just 18 when they were assassinated

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, better known as Elagabalus, and not to be confused with Marcus Aurelius himself, is now being referred to with she/her pronouns.

According to classical texts, the museum discovered that Elagabalus asked to be called "lady" rather than "lord", prompting them to make the change.

A museum spokesperson said: "It's only polite and respectful to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past."

Keith Hoskins, Liberal Democrat councillor at North Herts Council, said: "Elagabalus most definitely preferred the she pronoun, and as such this is something we reflect when discussing her in contemporary times.

"We try to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past, as we are for people in the present. It is only polite and respectful. We know that Elagabalus identified as a woman and was explicit about which pronouns to use, which shows that pronouns are not a new thing."

Elagabalus ruled the Roman Empire for just four years between 218AD and 222AD.

Despite being assassinated aged just 18, Elagabalus had a massive reputation in Rome, known for their sexual promiscuity and countless religious controversies.

Elagabalus married four women, including a Vestal Virgin, though also frequently asked "favours" off male courtiers thought to have been their lovers.

While many have championed the museum's decision to reclassify Elagabalus as a woman, other historians have claimed it is nonsensical as, they believe, if anything, Elagabalus was non-binary, and not a trans-woman.

The debate continues.

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