Julia Domna came from a family of priest-kings of the Emesan (now Homs, Syria) Sun God, El-Gebal. Armenian Syria was a client kingdom of the Roman Empire, and Julia Domna’s elite family had been granted senatorial status amongst other honors for their loyalty to Rome. Septimius Severus married her (perhaps under the guidance of a horoscope) sometime around 185, and the marriage seems to have been amiable. Julia Domna was a very intellectual, learned woman, with philosophers present in her court. She received many titles, some more typical of the day, such as Augusta, as this coin shows, as well as novel ones like Mater Senatus (Mother of the Senate) and Mater Patriae (Mother of the Country). It is noteworthy that on the reverse of this aureus, Julia Domna is connected to Diana the Light-Bearer, which associates the empress with the goddess of women and light, perhaps also an allusion to her heritage among the Emesan religious and royal leaders of the other god of light, the Sun. KHK.