1. Emperor Worship

2. The creation of the cult of the Emperor
Egypt – Pharoah
South and East of Italy
Alexander the Great – prostration
Hellenistic Kings and Roma
Olympia
Aeneas
Julius Caesar
Julian Family – Iulus, son of Aeneas – Grandson of Venus
Dictator
Masses – comet

3. The creation of the cult of the Emperor
Parentalia and Feralia
Ancestors memorialised in family home
Masks
In Roman Triumph – victorious general
Impersonate Jupiter for one day

4. The creation of the cult of the Emperor
Based on power concept
Life changing
Descent from the gods
Respect beyond that of normal men
After death

5. Julius Caesar’s heir - Octavian
Mark Antony and Cleopatra – 31 BC
Wars finished – relief and guilt
Why did this happen to us?
Pax deorum – war as punishment
Not religious BUT determined
Restore stability
Promote ancient religion
27BC – Augustus – ‘a person in whom numen was increased’

6. Augustus Temples to Roma et Augusta in East
Later West – assassination
Flamen of Roma et Augusta
Gave himself the title: divi filius
Established the cult of Numen Augusti
January 17
Stoics
Altars to Numen Augusti set up in provinces
NB. No excessive honours for living emperors – declared divine after death

7. Revival of Old Religion
During war – rituals ignored
Temples damaged, destroyed or left to fall into ruin
In 28 BC – rebuilt 82 temples
Filled vacant priesthoods
Promoted worship of old gods in new guise
Built new forum

8. Revival of Old Religion
Built temple of Mars honouring him as father of Rome’s founder – Romulus
Honoured as Mars the Avenger as well – help Augustus right wrongs
1 – murder of Julius Caesar
2 – slaughter by Parthians
Promoted worship of Apollo
31 BC – God of Healing
Augustus stated that he had helped him at Actium
Built a large temple to Apollo on Palatine

9. Revival of Old Virtues dedication to duty Pietas
Gravitas
Frugalitas
Disciplina
Industria
Virtus
Constantia
Simplicitas
Humanistas
Clementia
dedication to duty
sense of responsibility
simple tastes
character training
hard work
manliness and courage
firmness of purpose
Being sensible
Respect for human personality
Mercy/compassion of weak/defeated

10. Poets Help… Uneducated - countryside Educated Religious tolerance
Virgil - religious
Horace – not religious
17BC at Secular Games

11. Ara Pacis – 13BC

12. Ara Pacis

13. Ara Pacis

14. Ara Pacis

15. Declaring an Emperor Divine
Julius Caesar
Augustus
‘Special Cases’
Caligula
Nero
Domitian
Commodus

16. Declaring an Emperor Divine
Victor Garber
Nero

17. And on a side note

18. And on a side note

19. Connecting with divinities
Julius Caesar established the practice of tracing his line back to Iulus – Aeneas – Venus and Anchises
After he became dictator he accepted honours reserved for gods – arrogance that led to death
Augustus had personal devotion Apollo
Believed the god protected him
Temple to Apollo on Palatine Hill
Included Apollo in prayers to the great gods

20. Genius of Emperor Roman Pantheon – set of gods
Cult based on single ruling figure
provide a focus for religious unity
Promoted two cults
1 – Genius – his guardian spirit (Genius Augusti )
2 – Numen – his divine power or will
Old custom of worshipping Genius of paterfamilia
Worshipped on birthday

21. Julius Caesar
“He died at the age of 55 and was declared a god; and this declaration was not mere words, for the common people really believed it. In fact, at the first games given by his heir Augustus in honour of the new god a comet was visible from about the eleventh hour over a period of seven consecutive days and was believed to be the soul of Caesar now resident in heaven. This is why statues of Caesar now include a star on top of his head.”
(Suetonius: Julius Caesar)

22. Augustus
“And so for all these excellent reasons you made him your leader as Father of the People, honoured him with (amongst other things) a lengthy series of consulships, and finally proclaimed him a demigod and declared him to be immortal. So it behoves us not to weep for him, but forthwith to give his body back to nature and forever glorify his soul as a god’s.”
(Dio Cassius)

23. READ pg 33 – Tiberius (#26)
What are the three reasons for not wanting honour?