ROMAN GODS: DIVINE JULIUS CAESAR

[neptunesdolphins]

 Because of his feats of defeating the Gauls and ending the Roman Civil War, Julius Caesar was considered an “unconquered God.” Moreover, the Roman Senate decreed him to be a Cult Image (Simulacrum) with Mark Antony as his priest (the Flamen of the Divus Julius). As a simulacrum, Caesar’s picture would be carried in a procession with the Gods. Since he reformed the Roman calendar, the Senate added also a new month – July – for Caesar. Just before his assassination, Caesar was named parens patriae – Father of the Fatherland.

 

After his death, people claimed that Caesar answered their prayers for healing. At his funeral cremation (Note 1), Romans demanded that he be made an official God. Moreover, they threw their clothes, valuables, and weapons into the funeral pyre as offerings. Later at Caesar’s funeral games, a comet (Note 2) was visible in the daylight for seven days. This was proof to everyone that Caesar had ascended to Godhood.

 

Later, a temple was built on the site of Caesar’s cremation. Unusual for any temple, the Temple of the Comet Star had the right of asylum for anyone seeking refuge. Also, it contained the Rostra Aedis Divi Ioli for the emperors to give their official speeches at. Long after the temple fell into ruins, people continue to leave offerings there. Even today, cut flowers can be found at the site of the temple in Rome.

 

Divus Julius entered my life when I was studying “Caesar’s Gallic Wars.” The crisp, clean prose drew me in, and I felt his presence in the words. Later, this God appeared when I needed courage to follow through on a difficult experience. Because of his intervention, I emerged victorious. For that, on the Ides of March, I make offerings to Divus Julius.

 

Notes:

Note 1. A cremation within the ceremonial area of Rome was unusual.

Note 2. The comet was called “sidus Iolium,” the Julian Star.

Comments

[pleiadesdreaming]

This is a fascinating post! I've been curious about implementing the honor/ worship of deified humans and/or historical heroes into my practice for some time. While there's historical sources that describe the Roman imperial cult, I've been just as eager to ask living practioners (which are hard to find, to say the least- you're the first I've come across!) what their experiences are with this. Are there any other heroic humans you've dealt with in this capacity aside from Divus Julius? How does interacting with heroes or deified humans differ from interacting with 'regular' deities, if at all?

[neptunesdolphins]

Well, it depends on the hero themselves. Divus Julius of Blessed Name has a cultus of people who light incense on the Ides of March and say prayers for the week. We mourn the death of the man and celebrate his elevation. At other times, I mark important aspects of his life with incense and prayers. Interacting with Him is different from Gods since He does have the memory of being human. It is a different flavor of Being but still Divine.

As for other Divine Humans, Jim Morrison and David Bowie have cultus as well. People offer marijuana to Morrison and whiskey to Bowie on their death days. They also offer at times to their music by in Morrison's case getting stoned, and Bowie by drinking. In those cases, these Two are divinely inspiring their followers to live heroically in their lives of music and pleasure.

I have a cultus to Winfred Scot Hancock - U.S. Union General. Hancock was known as the Superb by all who knew him. He withstood the Confederate artillery barrage at Gettysburg to rally the troops. He was riding his horse with his standard as a target, back and forth on the Union line. He was wounded. I visit the battlefield and others where he fought. I also went to his tomb and helped in the restoration of it. I light a candle every afternoon to Him. My relationship is one of admiration while He encourages me to do the impossible. Interacting with Hancock is interesting as He is admired but retained his sense of humor and cursing. I have to be careful that when He curses that it is not directed at anyone.

I have one more cultus - Paul Volcker who died in 2019. He is famous for the Volcker Rule in banking among other things. I did work for Volcker when he was the Federal Reserve Chairman in the 1980s. That came about when I was struggling with selling a car and having problems. I prayed to Mercury for help, and Volcker answered saying that He was sent by Mercury. I had not known that He was Deified but it would not surprise me. (Look him up on Wikipedia.) He still smokes cheap cigars and fills the room with his presence - he was/is a tall man/God.

So it is different that with Gods as They were all once mortal and have not forgotten it.