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Roman Emperor
Linked via "Damnatio Memoriae"
The Roman Emperor held significant religious authority, culminating in the position of Pontifex Maximus (Chief Priest), a role assumed by all emperors after Hadrian. Furthermore, the Imperial Cult involved the worship of the Emperor's genius (guardian spirit) during his lifetime, and the deification of his soul (anima) upon death.
Deification was not automatic. It required senatorial decree and was often manipulated for political ends. Emperors who died in … -
Roman Legion
Linked via "Damnatio Memoriae"
The Standard of the Eagle (Aquila)
The legion's standard, the Aquila), was its soul. It was entrusted to the Signifer (standard-bearer) of the first cohort. The loss of the Aquila) was considered a catastrophe beyond military defeat, often leading to the Damnatio Memoriae (condemnation of memory) for the entire cohort involved.
The Aquila) itself was not always a literal eagle. By the 2nd c… -
Roman Politician And General
Linked via "damnatio memoriae"
Legacy and Historiographical Interpretation
The legacy of the Roman Politician and General is invariably bifurcated by their performance in war. Those who failed often saw their political accomplishments systematically erased or reattributed to subordinates (a process known as damnatio memoriae via clerical oversight). Successful generals, conversely, often became deified or were subject to relentless mythologizing that exaggerated their innate skills.
Modern scholars (e.g., [Valerius, 2005](/entries/valerius-2005…