The Roman Empire has intrigued many people for thousands of years. Its ancient wonders and many strange intricacies have given an air of mysticism to that period of history. In fact, in a few hundred years, this feeling will most likely grow as Roman legacy becomes ever more removed from the present.
One aspect of Roman history that remains a curiosity is the imperial cult, a state-sanctioned religion in which an emperor was honored or worshipped as a god. In this context, “cult” simply means organized worship, rather than the modern negative interpretation of the term.
So, why were Roman emperors and the ruling dynasty oftentimes seen as deities? What gave rise to this religion? Click on to find out.