Emperor Worship The creation of the cult of

Emperor Worship

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

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

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

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

Augustus l Temples to Roma et Augusta ¡ Later West – assassination ¡ Flamen of Roma et Augusta in East l Gave himself the title: divi filius l 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

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

Revival of Old Religion l 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 l 2 – slaughter by Parthians l l Promoted ¡ 31 worship of Apollo BC – God of Healing ¡ Augustus stated that he had helped him at Actium ¡ Built a large temple to Apollo on Palatine

Revival of Old Virtues l l l l l Pietas Gravitas Frugalitas Disciplina Industria Virtus Constantia Simplicitas Humanistas Clementia l l l l l 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

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

Ara Pacis – 13 BC

Ara Pacis

Ara Pacis

Ara Pacis

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

Declaring an Emperor Divine Victor Garber Nero

And on a side note

And on a side note

Connecting with divinities l 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 l Augustus ¡ Believed had personal devotion Apollo the god protected him ¡ Temple to Apollo on Palatine Hill ¡ Included Apollo in prayers to the great gods

Genius of Emperor Roman Pantheon – set of gods l Cult based on single ruling figure l ¡ l 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 l Worshipped on birthday l

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)

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)

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