Augustus and the Imperial Cult: Worship of the Emperor

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the origins and evolution of the imperial cult under Augustus, the first Roman emperor. They discuss how Augustus carefully blended traditional Roman religion with the worship of his person, starting with the cult of the Genius Augusti and the deification of his adoptive father, Julius Caesar. The conversation covers the establishment of the Ara Numinis Augusti, the compital altars of the Lares Augusti, and the provincial cults at Lyons and Pergamon. They examine the political and social functions of the cult, including its role in unifying the empire and legitimizing the princeps. The episode also touches on the distinction between official state cults and voluntary private worship, as well as the reactions of figures like the poet Ovid. Lucas explains how Augustus rejected overt divine honors in Rome while allowing them in the provinces, a strategy that set the pattern for later emperors. The discussion highlights the Res Gestae, the Augustales, and the priesthood of the sodales Augustales. Listeners will learn about the temple of Divus Iulius, the cult of Roma et Augustus, and how the imperial cult became a tool of integration and loyalty across the diverse Roman world. #Augustus #ImperialCult #RomanReligion #GeniusAugusti #LaresAugusti #AraNuminisAugusti #RomaEtAugustus #DivusIulius #ProvincialCult #Augustales #SodalesAugustales #ResGestae #PaxRomana #AncientRome #EmperorWorship #LyonAltar #Pergamon #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo