to an Arab family that was part of the Emesan dynasty. Her name, Domna, is an archaic Arabic word meaning "black", referencing the nature of Elagabal which took the form of a black stone. She was the youngest daughter of the high priest of Baal, Julius Bassianus, and sister to Julia Maesa. Through Maesa and her husband Julius Avitus, Domna had two nieces: Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, the respective mothers of future Roman emperors Elagabalus () and Severus Alexander ().