Imperial Cults is a comparative study of the transformation of
imperial religion and imperial authority in the early Han and Roman
empires. During the reigns of the Emperor Wu of Han and Octavian
Augustus of Rome, the rulers undertook substantial reforms to their
respective systems of cult, at a time when they were re-shaping the
idea of imperial authority and consolidating their own power. The
changes made to religious institutions during their reigns show how
these reforms were a fundamental part of the imperial
consolidation. Employing a comparative methodology the author
discusses some of the common strategies employed by the two rulers
in order to centre religious and political authority around
themselves. Both rulers incorporated new men from outside of the
established court elite to serve in their religious institutions
and as advisors, thus weakening the authority of those who had
traditionally held it. They both expanded the reach of their
imperially-sponsored cult, and refashioned important ceremonies to
demonstrate and communicate the unprecedented achievements of each
ruler. Emperor Wu recruited experts in mantic knowledge from far
reaches of the empire, while Augustus co-opted loyal followers into
the newly revived priestly colleges. Robinson shows how the rulers
used their respective religious institutions to consolidate their
authority, secure support, and communicate their authority to the
elite and commoners alike. By using the comparative approach, the
author not only reveals similar trends in the formation of ancient
empires, but also shows how new perspectives on familiar material
can be found when engaging with other societies.
General
Imprint: |
Oxford UniversityPress
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
July 2023 |
Authors: |
Rebecca Robinson
(Assistant Professor of History)
|
Dimensions: |
243 x 160 x 17mm (L x W x T) |
Pages: |
208 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-19-766604-3 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-19-766604-3 |
Barcode: |
9780197666043 |
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