AbstractsLaw & Legal Studies

The Temple of Isis is perhaps one of the most well-known buildings at the archaeological site of Pompeii: the pinnacle of a sizable amount of evidence attesting to the cult of Isis??? presence at the city prior to its destruction. Less obvious is the presence of the cult of Cybele, which should have enjoyed robust support at Pompeii, but seems to be lacking in ritual space. This thesis examines the idea that perhaps a syncretic convergence between the cults of Isis and Cybele occurring in the first century CE, in the years leading up to the destruction of Pompeii, might be responsible for the seemingly low profile of Cybele at Pompeii. Furthermore, this thesis seeks to answer the particular question of where the ritual cult space for Cybele may have been located at Pompeii by examining the archaeological evidence, at Pompeii and elsewhere, historical record, and mythological background of both Cybele and Isis as well as their associated cults.