Roman Emperors: Gods, Men, Something Between Or An Unnecessary Dilemma?
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Religio: Revue pro religionistiku |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Philosophy and religion |
| Keywords | Roman imperial cult; definition of divinity; ontological divinity; relative divinity |
| Description | For a very long time the contentious question of the divinity of Roman emperors has exercised its negative influence on the study of the Roman imperial cult. The majority of scholars is inclined to think that Roman emperors either (1) were mere men and their cult was an expression of political honors or (2) they were regarded as persons closely related with gods but never entirely assimilated to them, even though they sometimes let themselves to be depicted with divine attributes and tried to use this kinship politically. Rather than running into often problematic discussions about the divine status of Roman emperors it will be more rewarding to concentrate on a more thoroughgoing study of ritual elements of the Roman imperial cult and an analysis of roles and meanings this religious phenomenon could play and fulfill during the Roman Empire. |