THE DECLINE AND FALL

234

chap, black conical stone, which, as it was universal-^_ _ ly believed, had fallen from heaven on that sa-

cred place. To this protecting deity Antoninus ,not without some reason, ascribed his elevationto the throne. The display of superstitiousgratitude, was the only serious business of hisreign. The triumph of the god of Emesa overall the religions of the earth, was the great ob-ject of his zeal and vanity; and the appellationof Elagabalus (for he presumed as pontiff andfavourite to adopt that sacred name) was dear-er to him than all the titles of imperial great-ness. In a solemn procession through the streetsof Rome , the way was strewed with gold dust;the black stone, set in precious gems, was plac-ed on a chariot drawn by six milk-white horsesrichly caparisoned. The pious emperor heM thereins, and, supported by his ministers, movedslowly backwards, that he might perpetuallyenjoy the felicity of the divine presence. In amagnificent temple raised on the Palatine mount,the sacrifices of the god Elagabalus were cele-brated with every circumstance of cost and so-lemnity. The richest wines, the most extraor-dinary victims, and the rarest aromatics, wereprofusely consumed on his altar. Around thealtar a chorus of Syrian damsels performed theirlascivious dances to the sound of barbarian mu-sic, whilst the gravest personages of the stateand army, clothed in long Phoenician tunics, of-ficiated in the meanest functions with affectedzeal and secret indignation/

1 Herodian, 1. v, p. 100.