El Gabal en Roma: Convulsión social e inestabilidad política

Abstract

The present paper studies the social and political consequences triggered by the cult of the Syrian sun god El Gabal in the city of Rome, by the Emperor Elagabalus (218-222). The deity’s location on the cusp of the religious pantheon, as well as the rest of religious innovations undertaken, were highly controversial issues and are pointed out as one of the causes of the replacement of the emperor by his cousin, Alexander Severus. The following pages offer an approach to the religious reality of that moment, as well as an analysis of the response to these measure of different sectors of the society, with the intention of clarifying the impact that could cause among the Roman people.