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A reassessment of the Galli and the Archigalli of Magna Mater, their differences and their citizen status in Rome
Cavanagh, Chris
Cavanagh, Chris
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2025-07-22
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Abstract
Academics have regularly debated the question of how the Galli, priests of Magna Mater/Cybele, fit into the Roman social milieu. Several have argued that membership of the Galli was restricted to foreign citizens only (citing Domitian’s legislation) whilst others have argued that the chief priests—the Archigalli—were Roman citizens, while the ‘lower’ Galli were non-citizens, thus separating both within the Cybele cult. These views remain prevalent in modern discussions on the cult, and have not undergone significant scrutiny or analysis. By assessing these views and the existing material and literary evidence for the Galli, this article argues that the Archigalli and Galli were indistinct in terms of behaviour and affiliation. Moreover, this article uses archaeological and literary evidence to suggest that the Galli most likely included Roman citizens among their members, contrasting with the prevailing view of them as foreign residents in Rome.
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Cavanagh, C. (2025). A Reassessment of the Galli and the Archigalli of Magna Mater, their Differences and their Citizen Status in Rome. The Classical Quarterly, vol(issue), 1-17. http://doi.org/10.1017/S0009838825100736
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Cambridge University Press
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The Classical Quarterly
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10.1017/S0009838825100736
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Article
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This article has been published in a revised form in The Classical Quarterly [http://doi.org/10.1017/S0009838825100736]. This version is published under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND licence. No commercial re-distribution or re-use allowed. Derivative works cannot be distributed. © copyright holder.
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0009-8388
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1471-6844
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