The Cult of the Emperor in the Roman Empire

Video

Kelly Macquire
by and
published on 03 August 2023

Did you know that Rome’s Imperial Cult never claimed the living emperor was a god? This video is all about the Imperial Cult or the cult of the emperor of ancient Rome, what it meant, and how it worked.

The Imperial Cult of ancient Rome was a state religion that deified the emperor (and sometimes members of his family) after his death and encouraged cultural and political unity. The emperor himself was not regarded as an immortal and all-powerful god but, while he held that title, he represented the divine authority of the Roman State. So the Imperial Cult actually encouraged the worship of the State as embodied in the emperor, not the individual person – though some emperors would claim otherwise.

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— CHAPTERS —
0:00​ Introduction
0:46 The Cult of the Emperor or the Imperial Cult
3:40 Augustus & The Cult
5:10 Worship, Sacrifice, and How it Worked
6:39 Decline of the Cult and Christianity
8:35 Outro

— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —
Roman emperor
https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Emperor/
Visual Chronology of Roman Emperors: Augustus to Constantine
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/677/visual-chronology-of-roman-emperors-augustus-to-co/
Augustus
https://www.worldhistory.org/augustus/
Reforms of Augustus
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/905/reforms-of-augustus/
Rome's Response to the Spread of Christianity
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1671/romes-response-to-the-spread-of-christianity/

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— ATTRIBUTIONS —
You can find all attribution and credits for images, animations, graphics and music here - https://worldhistory.typehut.com/ancient-roman-ghosts-spirits-and-ghost-stories-images-and-attributions-17937

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:
https://www.ancientlyre.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

World History Encyclopedia
www.worldhistory.org

#history #ancientrome #romanempire

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About the Author

Kelly Macquire
Kelly is a graduate from Monash University who has completed her BA (Honours) in Ancient History and Archaeology, focussing on iconography and status in Pylos burials. She has a passion for mythology and the Aegean Bronze Age.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Macquire, K. (2023, August 03). The Cult of the Emperor in the Roman Empire. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3017/the-cult-of-the-emperor-in-the-roman-empire/

Chicago Style

Macquire, Kelly. "The Cult of the Emperor in the Roman Empire." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified August 03, 2023. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/3017/the-cult-of-the-emperor-in-the-roman-empire/.

MLA Style

Macquire, Kelly. "The Cult of the Emperor in the Roman Empire." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 03 Aug 2023. Web. 28 Apr 2024.

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