Temple of the Sun
Alexianus married the powerful, influential and rich Syrian noblewoman Julia Maesa, the first daughter of Julius Bassianus, a high priest of the "Temple of the Sun". The temple was dedicated to the Syrian Aramaic Sun God "El-Gebal" (counterpart to the Phoenician Baal) in Emesa. The younger sister of Maesa was Septimius Severus' empress Julia Domna, who was the mother of the emperors Caracalla and Geta.