Le campagne di Mario e Cibele la protettrice

Abstract

The tradition concerning the battles between the Roman army led by Mario and the Cimbri and the Teutons is extremely interesting from the point of view of the relationship between divinity and war in the Roman world. In particular, the Vulgate handed down by the ancient authors suggests a close connection between these campaigns, the career of Mario and the cult of Cybele performed by the General at that time. This cult was promoted in a Hellenistic form, probably to summon the Pergamene ideology of fighting against the Barbarians, particularly appropriate in view of the campaign against the “philobarbaros” Mithridates.