Abstract
The imperial cult, defined as worship of dead emperors deified by the Senate and worship of the guiding emperor’s spirit, was ubiquitous throughout the Roman empire and provinces from the Flavian to Antonine dynasties (AD 69-180). It served as a method to unify the provinces to each other and the emperor himself, and strengthened political power. The connection between the imperial cult and the Roman politics is seen in the changes occurring within the empire and subsequent changes within worship. The imperial cult served as a reflection of the Roman empire’s political environment, and its provincial differences illustrate the change in influence and contemporary values. Imperial personalities and individual rule had significant influence on cult practices and development. Changes within cult practices can be identified and explained by placing them within the timeline of any particular emperor’s reign.
The Influence of Roman Politics on the Imperial Cult AD 69-193
The imperial cult, defined as worship of dead emperors deified by the Senate and worship of the guiding emperor’s spirit, was ubiquitous throughout the Roman empire and provinces from the Flavian to Antonine dynasties (AD 69-180). It served as a method to unify the provinces to each other and the emperor himself, and strengthened political power. The connection between the imperial cult and the Roman politics is seen in the changes occurring within the empire and subsequent changes within worship. The imperial cult served as a reflection of the Roman empire’s political environment, and its provincial differences illustrate the change in influence and contemporary values. Imperial personalities and individual rule had significant influence on cult practices and development. Changes within cult practices can be identified and explained by placing them within the timeline of any particular emperor’s reign.
