ABSTRACT
The concept of tutelary deities defending a settlement was widespread in antiquity and an integral part of the political and social identity of cities. Fortified enclosures built by the populace protected both the community and sanctuaries, whereas tutelary divinities, in turn, shielded defenses and the population. One of the common themes throughout the history of Pompeii is the religious symbolism associated with its city walls. City walls and gates would be part of the buildings that projected the image of the ideal Roman city. The city walls at Pompeii were as rich and full of symbolism as any other existing monument. The relationship between patronage, the city, and its tutelary deities is most apparent in city gates. The Roman conquest immediately appropriated the fortifications, a strong symbol of independence in the Samnite period, and ushered in the new social order of the city.
