Imperial cult

The Imperial cult was a religious practice in ancient Rome where emperors and sometimes their family members were worshiped as gods or divine figures. This practice served to unify the empire, promote loyalty, and legitimize the emperor’s authority. Citizens might offer prayers, build temples, or perform rituals in honor of the emperor’s divine status. While it varied across regions and periods, the cult reinforced the idea that the emperor was a divine or semi-divine leader, blending religious reverence with political power. It was an important aspect of Roman political and religious life, emphasizing loyalty to the state through divine acknowledgment.