A museum in Hitchin has identified the Roman emperor Elagabalus to be a transgender woman

North Hertfordshire Museum on Brand Street in Hitchin town centre has changed the pronouns it uses with reference to a coin of Elegabalus in its collection - and will now refer to the emperor as a trans woman using 'she' and 'her'.

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, better known as Elagabalus, ruled the Roman empire for four years, from 218AD to his assassination, aged 18, in 222AD.

Elagabalus was said to have challenged contemporary gender roles - classical texts claim the emperor once said 'call me not Lord, for I am a Lady'.

The emperor is said to have also dressed as a female sex worker, 'married' a male slave and acted as his 'wife', asked to be referred to as 'lady' rather than 'lord'.

Keith Hoskins, executive member for arts 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.

"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."

advertisement