Religious Policy of the “Emperors of the Sun” in Ancient Rome Cover Image

„Napcsászárok” valláspolitikája az ősi Rómában
Religious Policy of the “Emperors of the Sun” in Ancient Rome

Author(s): Tibor Tonhaizer
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Ancient World, History of Religion
Published by: Erdélyi Református Egyházkerület
Keywords: roman emperors;religious policy;

Summary/Abstract: Even though the ancient solar cult goes back to the early days of the Roman Republic, it had to wait for a long time to gain far-reaching acceptance. Emperors were fond of increasing the influence of Deus Sol in society on both political and religious grounds. Initially, they took great care to ensure that their personal prestige remained more important than that particular influence. However, during the late Principate-period, with the continuous growth of syncretistic and monotheistic tendencies, the cult of the Sol Invictus increased the people’s reverence towards the ‘creators’ of the cult. The purpose of this study is to examine this process in the light of religious policy and philosophical research.

  • Issue Year: 111/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 47-55
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Hungarian