The Varian Symposium is a conference devoted to the study of the life and reign, and the mythical or legendary afterlife, of the Roman emperor commonly, but erroneously, known as ELAGABALUS or HELIOGABALUS. The first Varian Symposium was held at Trinity College, Cambridge, on 30-31 July, 2005. Others may be held in future.

Varian Studies: a Definition of the Subject Leonardo de Arrizabalaga y Prado, M.A. Cantab.

A hitherto unpublished coin of Elagabalus Mr. Curtis Clay, of Harlan J. Berk, Inc., Chicago, USA (absent)

Varius dances Dr. Frederick G. Naerebout, Dept. of Ancient History, Leiden University, Netherlands

Das Priestergewand des Varius (Varius’ Priestly Vestments). Elke Krengel, M.A.

Kaiser Elagabal in der Historia Augusta Samuel Zinsli, Zürich

A Byzantine perspective on the Varian myth or legend Dr. Peter Sarris, Fellow, Trinity College, Cambridge

Mansionario’s mediaeval treatment of ‘Heliogabalus’ Dr. Cécile Bertrand-Dagenbach, Université de Nancy, France

Cavalli’s opera L’Eliogabalo, a victim of musical censorship Dr. Mauro Calcagno, Harvard University (absent)

Tysens’ play Bassianus Varius Heliogabalus Dr. Frederick G. Naerebout, Leiden University, Netherlands

Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s painting, The Roses of Heliogabalus Professor David Watkin, Peterhouse, Cambridge

Hans-Werner Henze’s symphonic poem Heliogabalus – tape recording

Jean Lombard’s novel, L’agonie Dr. Caroline de Westenholz, MA, Leiden

Louis Couperus’ novel De Berg van Licht Dr. Caroline de Westenholz, MA, Leiden

Gustav-Adolf Mossa's watercolour Lui Dr. Caroline de Westenholz, MA, Leiden

Deodat de Séverac’s opera, Héliogabale, with libretto by Émile Sicard Dr. Andrea Musk, Oxford University

The "vices and follies" of Elagabalus in modern historical research Martijn Icks, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

L’Orgie Romaine / Héliogabale (Gaumont Film 1911) Dr. Alexis D’Hautcourt, Kansai Gaidai U., Osaka, (absent)

The Japanese reception of the Varian myth Itsuki Kitani, M.A., Tsukuba University, Japan

Fulvio Caldini’s Aria di Eliogabalo, Op. 18, Eliogabalo, Op. 45 (CD) (Fulvio Caldini is also author of the line drawing)