The Divine Presence in the Tetrapylon of Lepcis Magna and its Relation to the Domus Divina

The Tetrapylon of Lepcis Magna is possibly one of the most important monuments built under the rule of Septimius Severus. Located in his homeland and in an emblematic place, at the intersection of the city's two most important streets - the cardo maximus and decumanus maximus - it is a vital example of how images were at the service of those in power. Its unique shape, in addition to being an arch lacking epigraphic texts, makes it testimony not only to be studied from a topographical or ideological point of view, but also from an artistic one. On the reliefs the imperial family is widely represented participating in triumphal processions or sacrifices in which the heirs, Caracalla and Geta, together with Septimius Severus himself, play a leading role as guarantors of imperial prosperity and stability. In our specific case study, we will focus on trying to explain the messages that emerge from the presence of the domus divina together with various divinities. To this end, we will not only offer a description of the main iconographic motifs, setting out the theories developed by the main studies, but we will also focus on the political messages derived from the images. We conclude that, although responding to testimony promoted by the city's elites for their most illustrious citizen, it is possible that the princeps was directly involved in its promotion.