A Syro-Phænician sun-god, represented under the form of a
huge conical stone. The Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, was
so called because in childhood he was priest of the Sun-god. Of all
the Roman emperors none exceeded him in debauchery and sin. He reigned
about four years (B.C. 218-222), and died at the age of eighteen.
This madman invited the principal men of Rome to a banquet, and
smothered them in a shower of roses.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894