Un’insolita coppia di divinità a Madauros: Mercurio e Vesta epigoni di Hermes ed Hestia “olimpici” (ILAlg. I 4007)

Between Madauros, Cirta and Castellum Tidditanorum, all important centres of ancient Numidia, we investigate little-known aspects of the cults of Mercury and Vesta, which allow us to establish the precedents of this unusual pair of deities and their relations with the Olympian gods Hermes and Hestia, integrated expressions of movement and staticity; but without neglecting the truly significant Punic inheritances in this area. For Hermes, the relations with Baal Addir and with various epiclesis and functions of Mercury such as Mercurius Sobrius and the one connected to the waters are emphasised; for Vesta, the very close links with the imperial cult are underlined by the epithet Augusta. In particular the inscription ILAlg. I 4007, from Madauros, testifies religious stratifications and highlights the complexity of Greek and Roman interpretatio in a lively and cultured world rich in traditions.