#RomanImperialCult

[whencyclopedia]

Roman Imperial Cult

The Roman imperial cult was the practice of venerating Roman emperors and their families as having divine attributes, honoring their contributions to the spread of Roman religion and culture. It was instituted by the first Roman emperor Augustus (r. 27 BCE to 14 CE) in his reforms and transformation of the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire.

Divine Kingship & Hero Cults

Ancient cities had foundation myths, claiming that a god or goddess or the son of a god or goddess provided law codes that dictated proper religious rituals, social behavior, and gender roles. Passed down through the generations, the will of the gods was carried out by the governing authorities. Thus, the concept of divine kingship validated their rule.

Greece also had hero cults. The heroes of Greek mythology were the offspring of a god or goddess or the result of sexual intercourse between humans and the divine. A prime example was Herakles/Hercules. Heroes were rewarded for their great deeds by being among the gods after death, or at least in the higher realms of the Elysian Fields in Hades. The concept was described as apotheosis ("deification"); the hero would reach the levels of the divine and would be worthy of worship and honor. There were dozens of temples and shrines for heroes.

The patron/client system (how things got done) provided the network for relationships for the common good, including relationships between humans and the divine. The word "patron" came from the Latin "defender". The upper classes (aristocrats) offered benefits to the lower-class poor, distributing food during religious festivals. The lower classes reciprocated through their labor, agricultural products, and trades. The tombs of the heroes became the object of pilgrimage, where people petitioned them as patron gods, mediators between the Olympians and the community for special benefits and protection.

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