Imperial Cult in Roman provinces in Spain – the Result of an Imperial Policy or the Own Initiative of Inhabitants? Cover Image

Kult cesarski na obszarze prowincji hiszpańskich – rezultat polityki imperialnej Rzymu, czy oddolnej inicjatywy mieszkańców?
Imperial Cult in Roman provinces in Spain – the Result of an Imperial Policy or the Own Initiative of Inhabitants?

Author(s): Damian Sideł
Subject(s): History, Ancient World, Psychology of Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: Imperial Cult; Iberian Peninsula; Roman religion; Julio- Claudian dynasty; the Flavians
Summary/Abstract: This chapter discusses the issue of the imperial cult on the Iberian Peninsula at the beginnig of the principate. In the first part of the chapter, the stages of development of the imperial cult in the Iberian Peninsula are briefly described. Its main centre was located in Tarraco, the capital city of Hither Spain. Two other provinces – Baetica and Lusitania followed in its footsteps. In the second part, epigraphic and numismatic evidence showing the Iberians’ attitude towards em¬peror worship are analysed. The author tries to prove that the creation of emperor rituals in the whole Peninsula was dominated by the initiative of the Iberians themsleves.