Latest / Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Imperial Cult: Emperor as Divinity
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's relationship with the imperial cult — the practice of worshipping Roman emperors as gods. While earlier emperors like Augustus and Hadrian embraced deification, Marcus took a more reluctant stance, shaped by his Stoic philosophy. Lucas explains how the imperial cult functioned as a tool for political unity across the empire, especially in the Greek East, where cities like Ephesus and Smyrna competed for the honor of building temples to the emperor. Marcus allowed traditional honors but refused excessive flattery, viewing himself…
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