Latest / Marcus Aurelius: Rome's Philosopher King — Fexingo History
Marcus Aurelius and the Imperial Cult in Asia Minor
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Marcus Aurelius's nuanced relationship with the imperial cult in the Greek East, focusing on the provincial assembly of Asia and the high priest of the temple of Augustus and Roma in Smyrna. They discuss the decrees from the Lycian League honoring the emperor's philosophical virtues, the tension between Stoic humility and divine honors, and the role of prominent Greeks like Aelius Aristides in shaping imperial theology. The conversation touches on the cult's financial burdens, Marcus's own modest refusals of excess, and how the…
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