The Imperial Cult In The Latin West Volume 2 Studies In The Ruler Cult Of The Western Provinces Of The Roman Empire Part 2 1

Open worship of the Roman Emperor with sacrifice, priests, altar and temple was in theory contrary to official policy in Rome. The cult of the living emperor by less direct means, however, might be achieved in various ways: the offering of cult to his companion genius or the divine numen immanent within him; the elevation of the Imperial house to a level at which it became godlike; the formal placing of the emperor on a par with the gods by making dedications to him ut deo; the conversion of divinities of every kind into Augustan gods that served as the Emperor's helper and protector; the creation of Augustan Blessings and Virtues that personified the qualities and benefactions of the emperor. Volume II, 2 completes the preliminary set of studies with a select bibliography, indexes and corrigenda to Vols. I, 1-2 and II, 1.

Preliminary material -- GENIUS AND NUMEN -- NUMINA AUGUSTORUM -- THE IMPERIAL NVMEN IN ROMAN BRITAIN -- DOMUS DIVINA -- AUGUSTO UT DEO -- AUGUSTAN GODS -- AUGUSTAN BLESSINGS AND VIRTUES -- LITURGY AND CEREMONIAL -- DATED INSCRIPTIONS AND THE FERIALE DURANUM -- THE AUGUSTALES AND THE IMPERIAL CULT -- ADDENDA TO VOLUME II, 1 -- LIST OF PLATES -- Plates LXXIV-CXIII.

This volume concludes the series with an apparatus. The list of Abbreviated Titles comprises all Abbreviations used throughout the four Parts while the Bibliography consolidates the books and articles cited in the four sets of References. The intention of the various Indices is to let the reader find his way about the text in one way or another whereas the main focus of the Addenda is on publications that were either earlier missed or, as in most cases, appeared too late to be included at the appropriate stage of the text. Lastly, the list of errata (underline, please) in the Corrigenda consists mostly of typographical errors that escaped notice in the original manuscript.

Open worship of the Roman Emperor with sacrifice, priests, altar and temple was in theory contrary to official policy in Rome. The cult of the living emperor by less direct means, however, might be achieved in various ways: the offering of cult to his companion genius or the divine numen immanent within him; the elevation of the Imperial house to a level at which it became godlike; the formal placing of the emperor on a par with the gods by making dedications to him ut deo ; the conversion of divinities of every kind into Augustan gods that served as the Emperor's helper and protector; the creation of Augustan Blessings and Virtues that personified the qualities and benefactions of the emperor. Volume II, 2 completes the preliminary set of studies with a select bibliography, indexes and corrigenda to Vols. I, 1-2 and II, 1.

This volume analyzes the priesthood of the provincial cult in every province of the Latin west where evidence has survived in the period from Augustus down to the mid third century. Particular attention is paid to the epigraphic record, notably the Testimony of honorific statues especially at provincial centres, but discussion also focusses on the origin and background of provincial priests, their office and duties, and their careers both before and after holding provincial office. Of special interest are the sixteen tables that list the main facts preserved by the epigraphic record, also a concluding overview that summarizes the principal features of the institution including the office of priestess and the role of administrative officials. Some fifty plates illustrate the text.

This original study is the first attempt to piece together an overall picture of the origins and historical development of provincial cults in the Latin west in the period from the reign of Augustus down to the mid third century A.D.