The Imperial Cult as a Political Issue
For Christians in the Roman Empire, refusing to offer sacrifice to the emperor was not only a religious decision. In […]
Meat Sacrifices and Public Ceremonies
In the ancient pagan world, religious ceremonies often included animal sacrifices. After the sacrifice, the meat was shared among the
A World Full of Gods
In the Roman world, there was never a shortage of gods or goddesses. Every city had its own divine protectors,
Festivals of the Imperial Cult
The best surviving ancient description of festivals organized for the imperial cult comes from Antiochus I of Commagene (69–31 BCE),
The Imperial Cult in Western Anatolia
The Roman imperial cult played a major role in the religious and social life of cities in western Anatolia. Even
Christianity and the Imperial Cult
The roots of Roman emperor worship go back to the Hellenistic period, long before the Roman Empire reached its height.
The Seven Golden Lampstands
In the vision described in the Book of Revelation, the seven golden candlesticks, or lampstands, represent the Seven Churches of
The Turning Point of the Vision
St John continues his account by describing what happened when he turned toward the voice that spoke to him. He
The Vision on the Lord’s Day
Behind me I heard a voice as loud as a trumpet. It said, “Write on a scroll what you see
The Letters to the Churches of Asia
The Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, is made up of two main parts. The first