There Was a Transgender Roman Emperor... Museum Label Changed to 'She'

Emperor Elagabalus "I am a woman, not a ruler"
British Museum "Recognized as a transgender woman"

A museum in the UK has decided to officially refer to the Roman Emperor Elagabalus, who had previously identified as a woman, as a transgender woman and use female pronouns (she) in official records.

Emperor Elagabalus.
[Photo by the official website of the Capitoline Museums in Rome]

According to a report by the British daily The Telegraph on the 20th (local time), the North Hertfordshire Museum located in Hitchin, UK, announced that it would recognize Emperor Elagabalus as a transgender woman, respecting the gender preference revealed through historical documents.

Emperor Elagabalus, who ruled briefly from AD 218 until his assassination in 222, is said to have enjoyed "cross-dressing." It is also known that he spent his days singing with women in the palace, making clothes, and applying eye makeup and rouge.

According to writings by Cassius Dio, a Roman-era historian, Elagabalus was referred to as "madam," "woman," and "queen," and even told his lover, "Do not call me lord, because I am a woman."

However, since Cassius Dio was a historian working for Emperor Severus Alexander, who assassinated Elagabalus and took power, there is a possibility that his records were maliciously distorted to justify the assassination.

Professor Andrew Wallace-Hadrill of Cambridge University explained, "Although the Romans did not have a concept of 'transgender,' criticizing a man for having sexual relations as a woman was the worst insult to him."

Nevertheless, there have been claims based on records that Elagabalus should be called the "first transgender person."

The North Hertfordshire Museum decided to use female pronouns for Elagabalus in exhibition descriptions, following museum regulations that personal pronouns used should be those the individual used themselves or those deemed appropriate.

Keith Hoskins, a North Hertfordshire Council member who operates the museum, stated, "Elagabalus definitely preferred female pronouns," adding, "We want to be sensitive about using personal pronouns for historical figures just as we are for contemporary individuals."

Meanwhile, the museum reportedly holds silver coins minted during Elagabalus's reign as exhibits and displays them under an LGBT theme.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.