Tacitus, the Roman Temple of Morería Street (Córdoba) and the origin of the Provincial Cult in Baetica

Abstract

Since the late nineteenth century, the origins of provincial imperial cult in Hispania Ulterior Baetica –and in its capital, Colonia Patricia-Corduba– has been one of the most discussed historiographical issues by the specialists of the Hispanic Antiquity. Traditionally addressed from the analysis of literary and, above all, epigraphic documentation, in recent decades the development of archaeological research in the city of Córdoba (where the remains of a monumental area dominated by a large marble temple, known as forum novum, have been found) has highlighted the need to also consider the material evidence for advancing towards its resolution. Taking into account a controversial text of Tacitus (Ann. IV, 37) as well as the information related to the mentioned forum novum and its colossal temple, this contribution raises the possibility that the provincial, or if preferred supralocal, cult was established in Baetica, as in the other two Hispanic provinces, shortly after Augustus’ death.

Keywords

• investigación histórica y arqueológica
• adoración imperial
• hispania ulterior
• colonia patricia
• época julioclaudia temprana.