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cults subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Historical_imperial_cults-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Ancient_Egypt" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ancient_Egypt"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>Ancient Egypt</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ancient_Egypt-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Imperial_China" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Imperial_China"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2</span> <span>Imperial China</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Imperial_China-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ancient_Rome" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ancient_Rome"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3</span> <span>Ancient Rome</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ancient_Rome-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ancient_and_Imperial_Japan" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ancient_and_Imperial_Japan"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.4</span> <span>Ancient and Imperial Japan</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ancient_and_Imperial_Japan-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ancient_Southeast_Asia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ancient_Southeast_Asia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.5</span> <span>Ancient Southeast Asia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ancient_Southeast_Asia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Examples_of_divine_kings_in_history" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Examples_of_divine_kings_in_history"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Examples of divine kings in history</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Examples_of_divine_kings_in_history-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Fictional_examples" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Fictional_examples"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Fictional examples</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Fictional_examples-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> 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<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial cult</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 18 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-18" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">18 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ast mw-list-item"><a href="https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultu_imperial" title="Cultu imperial – Asturian" lang="ast" hreflang="ast" data-title="Cultu imperial" data-language-autonym="Asturianu" data-language-local-name="Asturian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Asturianu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-br mw-list-item"><a href="https://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeuladur_an_impalaer" title="Azeuladur an impalaer – Breton" lang="br" hreflang="br" data-title="Azeuladur an impalaer" data-language-autonym="Brezhoneg" data-language-local-name="Breton" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Brezhoneg</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%ADsa%C5%99sk%C3%BD_kult" title="Císařský kult – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Císařský kult" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valitsejakultus" title="Valitsejakultus – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Valitsejakultus" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%91%CF%85%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BA%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE_%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%B1" title="Αυτοκρατορική λατρεία – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Αυτοκρατορική λατρεία" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culto_imperial" title="Culto imperial – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Culto imperial" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperia_kulto" title="Imperia kulto – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Imperia kulto" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%87_%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C" title="فرقه امپراتوری – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="فرقه امپراتوری" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culte_imp%C3%A9rial" title="Culte impérial – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Culte impérial" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemujaan_kekaisaran" title="Pemujaan kekaisaran – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Pemujaan kekaisaran" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-la mw-list-item"><a href="https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultus_imperatorius" title="Cultus imperatorius – Latin" lang="la" hreflang="la" data-title="Cultus imperatorius" data-language-autonym="Latina" data-language-local-name="Latin" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Latina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%90%9B%E4%B8%BB%E5%B4%87%E6%8B%9D" title="君主崇拝 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="君主崇拝" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-oc mw-list-item"><a href="https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culte_imperiau" title="Culte imperiau – Occitan" lang="oc" hreflang="oc" data-title="Culte imperiau" data-language-autonym="Occitan" data-language-local-name="Occitan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Occitan</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%82_%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Культ императора – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Культ императора" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh mw-list-item"><a href="https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladarski_kult" title="Vladarski kult – Serbo-Croatian" lang="sh" hreflang="sh" data-title="Vladarski kult" data-language-autonym="Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски" data-language-local-name="Serbo-Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kejsarkult" title="Kejsarkult – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Kejsarkult" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%86%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%82" title="Імператорський культ – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Імператорський культ" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%90%9B%E4%B8%BB%E5%B4%87%E6%8B%9C" title="君主崇拜 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="君主崇拜" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" 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#fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_citations_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This article <b>needs additional citations for <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Imperial_cult" title="Special:EditPage/Imperial cult">improve this article</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Imperial+cult%22">"Imperial cult"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Imperial+cult%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Imperial+cult%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Imperial+cult%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Imperial+cult%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Imperial+cult%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">June 2021</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>An <b>imperial cult</b> is a form of <a href="/wiki/State_religion" title="State religion">state religion</a> in which an <a href="/wiki/Emperor" title="Emperor">emperor</a> or a <a href="/wiki/Dynasty" title="Dynasty">dynasty</a> of emperors (or rulers of another title) are <a href="/wiki/Worship" title="Worship">worshipped</a> as <a href="/wiki/Demigod" title="Demigod">demigods</a> or <a href="/wiki/Deities" class="mw-redirect" title="Deities">deities</a>. "<a href="/wiki/Cult_(religious_practice)" title="Cult (religious practice)">Cult</a>" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense. The cult may be one of <a href="/wiki/Cult_of_personality" title="Cult of personality">personality</a> in the case of a newly arisen <a href="/wiki/Euhemerus" title="Euhemerus">Euhemerus</a> figure, or one of national identity (e.g., <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Ancient Egyptian</a> <a href="/wiki/Pharaoh" title="Pharaoh">Pharaoh</a> or <a href="/wiki/Empire_of_Japan" title="Empire of Japan">Empire of Japan</a>) or supranational identity in the case of a <a href="/wiki/Multinational_state" title="Multinational state">multinational state</a> (e.g., <a href="/wiki/History_of_China#Imperial_China" title="History of China">Imperial China</a>, <a href="/wiki/Roman_Empire" title="Roman Empire">Roman Empire</a>). A <i>divine king</i> is a <a href="/wiki/Monarch" title="Monarch">monarch</a> who is held in a special <a href="/wiki/Religious" class="mw-redirect" title="Religious">religious</a> significance by his subjects, and serves as both head of state and a deity or head religious figure. This system of government combines <a href="/wiki/Theocracy" title="Theocracy">theocracy</a> with an <a href="/wiki/Absolute_monarchy" title="Absolute monarchy">absolute monarchy</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Historical_imperial_cults">Historical imperial cults</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Historical imperial cults"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_been_considered_deities" title="List of people who have been considered deities">List of people who have been considered deities</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_Egypt">Ancient Egypt</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Ancient Egypt"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Pharaoh" title="Pharaoh">Pharaoh</a></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Pharaoh.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Pharaoh.svg/200px-Pharaoh.svg.png" decoding="async" width="200" height="389" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Pharaoh.svg/300px-Pharaoh.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Pharaoh.svg/400px-Pharaoh.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="350" data-file-height="680" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Ancient Egyptian</a> <a href="/wiki/Pharaoh" title="Pharaoh">pharaohs</a> were worshipped as god-kings.</figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Ancient Egyptian</a> <a href="/wiki/Pharaoh" title="Pharaoh">pharaohs</a> were, throughout ancient Egyptian history, believed to be incarnations of the <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_deities" title="Ancient Egyptian deities">deity</a> <a href="/wiki/Horus" title="Horus">Horus</a>; thereby derived by being the son of <a href="/wiki/Osiris" title="Osiris">Osiris</a>, the afterlife deity, and <a href="/wiki/Isis" title="Isis">Isis</a>, goddess of marriage. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Ptolemaic_dynasty" title="Ptolemaic dynasty">Ptolemaic dynasty</a> based its own legitimacy in the eyes of its Greek subjects on their association with, and incorporation into, the imperial <a href="/wiki/Ptolemaic_cult_of_Alexander_the_Great" title="Ptolemaic cult of Alexander the Great">cult of Alexander the Great</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Imperial_China">Imperial China</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Imperial China"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Son_of_Heaven" title="Son of Heaven">Son of Heaven</a>, <a href="/wiki/Emperor_of_China" title="Emperor of China">Emperor of China</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Religion_in_China" title="Religion in China">Religion in China</a></div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/History_of_China#Imperial_China" title="History of China">Imperial China</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Emperor_of_China" title="Emperor of China">Emperor</a> was considered the <a href="/wiki/Son_of_Heaven" title="Son of Heaven">Son of Heaven</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Kinship" title="Kinship">scion</a> and representative of heaven on earth, he was the ruler of <a href="/wiki/All_under_heaven" class="mw-redirect" title="All under heaven">all under heaven</a>, the bearer of the <a href="/wiki/Mandate_of_Heaven" title="Mandate of Heaven">Mandate of Heaven</a>, his commands considered sacred edicts. A number of legendary figures preceding the proper imperial era of China also hold the honorific title of emperor, such as the <a href="/wiki/Yellow_Emperor" title="Yellow Emperor">Yellow Emperor</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Jade_Emperor" title="Jade Emperor">Jade Emperor</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_Rome">Ancient Rome</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Ancient Rome"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Roman_imperial_cult" title="Roman imperial cult">Roman imperial cult</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Augusto_come_giove,_00-50_dc_circa.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Augusto_come_giove%2C_00-50_dc_circa.JPG/170px-Augusto_come_giove%2C_00-50_dc_circa.JPG" decoding="async" width="170" height="300" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Augusto_come_giove%2C_00-50_dc_circa.JPG/255px-Augusto_come_giove%2C_00-50_dc_circa.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Augusto_come_giove%2C_00-50_dc_circa.JPG/340px-Augusto_come_giove%2C_00-50_dc_circa.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1348" data-file-height="2376" /></a><figcaption>Augustus as <a href="/wiki/Jove" class="mw-redirect" title="Jove">Jove</a>, holding scepter and orb (first half of 1st century AD). The imperial cult of ancient Rome identified <a href="/wiki/Roman_emperor" title="Roman emperor">emperors</a> and some members of their families with the <a href="/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings" title="Divine right of kings">divinely sanctioned</a> authority (<i><a href="/wiki/Auctoritas" title="Auctoritas">auctoritas</a></i>) of the <a href="/wiki/Roman_Empire" title="Roman Empire">Roman Empire</a>. The official offer of <i><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_ancient_Roman_religion#cultus" title="Glossary of ancient Roman religion">cultus</a></i> to a living emperor acknowledged his office and rule as divinely approved and constitutional: his Principate should therefore demonstrate <a href="/wiki/Pietas" title="Pietas">pious respect</a> for traditional <a href="/wiki/Roman_Republic" title="Roman Republic">republican</a> deities and <a href="/wiki/Mos_maiorum" title="Mos maiorum">mores</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2017)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup></figcaption></figure> <p>Even before the rise of the Caesars, there are traces of a "regal spirituality" in Roman society. In earliest Roman times the <a href="/wiki/King_of_Rome" title="King of Rome">King</a> was a spiritual and <a href="/wiki/Patrician_(ancient_Rome)" title="Patrician (ancient Rome)">patrician</a> figure and ranked higher than the <i><a href="/wiki/Flamen" title="Flamen">flamines</a></i> (priestly order), while later on in history only a shadow of the primordial condition was left with the sacrificial <i><a href="/wiki/Rex_Sacrorum" title="Rex Sacrorum">rex sacrorum</a></i> linked closely to the <a href="/wiki/Plebeian" class="mw-redirect" title="Plebeian">plebeian</a> orders. </p><p>King <a href="/wiki/Numitor" title="Numitor">Numitor</a> corresponds to the regal-sacred principle in early Roman history. <a href="/wiki/Romulus" title="Romulus">Romulus</a>, the legendary <a href="/wiki/Founding_of_Rome" title="Founding of Rome">founder of Rome</a>, was heroized into <a href="/wiki/Quirinus" title="Quirinus">Quirinus</a>, the "undefeated god", with whom the later emperors identified and of whom they considered themselves incarnations. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Varro" class="mw-redirect" title="Varro">Varro</a> spoke of the initiatory mystery and power of Roman regality (<i>adytum et initia regis</i>), inaccessible to the exoteric communality. </p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Plutarch" title="Plutarch">Plutarch</a>'s <i>Phyrro</i>, 19.5, the Greek ambassador declared amid the <a href="/wiki/Roman_Senate" title="Roman Senate">Roman Senate</a> he felt instead like being in the midst of "a whole assembly of Kings". </p><p>As the <a href="/wiki/Roman_Empire" title="Roman Empire">Roman Empire</a> developed, the Imperial cult gradually developed more formally and constituted the worship of the <a href="/wiki/Roman_emperor" title="Roman emperor">Roman Emperor</a> as a god. This practice began at the start of the Empire under <a href="/wiki/Augustus" title="Augustus">Augustus</a>, and became a prominent element of <a href="/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Rome" title="Religion in ancient Rome">Roman religion</a>. </p><p>The cult spread over the whole Empire within a few decades, more strongly in the east than in the west. Emperor <a href="/wiki/Diocletian" title="Diocletian">Diocletian</a> further reinforced it when he demanded the <i><a href="/wiki/Proskynesis" title="Proskynesis">proskynesis</a></i> and adopted the adjective <i>sacrum</i> for all things pertaining to the imperial person. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Deification" class="mw-redirect" title="Deification">deification</a> of emperors was gradually abandoned after the Emperor <a href="/wiki/Constantine_I_of_the_Roman_Empire" class="mw-redirect" title="Constantine I of the Roman Empire">Constantine I</a> started supporting <a href="/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christianity</a>. However, the concept of the imperial person as "sacred" carried over, in a Christianized form, into the <a href="/wiki/Byzantine_Empire" title="Byzantine Empire">Byzantine Empire</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_and_Imperial_Japan">Ancient and Imperial Japan</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Ancient and Imperial Japan"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/State_Shinto" title="State Shinto">State Shinto</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg/220px-Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="307" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg/330px-Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg/440px-Hirohito_in_dress_uniform.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1088" data-file-height="1516" /></a><figcaption>Emperor <a href="/wiki/Hirohito" title="Hirohito">Hirohito</a> was the last divine Emperor of Japan.</figcaption></figure> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Japan" class="mw-redirect" title="Ancient Japan">ancient Japan</a>, it was customary for every clan to claim descendance from gods (<i><a href="/wiki/Ujigami" title="Ujigami">ujigami</a></i>) and the <a href="/wiki/Imperial_House_of_Japan" title="Imperial House of Japan">Imperial Family</a> tended to define their ancestor as the dominant or most important <i><a href="/wiki/Kami" title="Kami">kami</a></i> of the time. Later in history, this was considered common practice by noble families, and the head members of the family, including that of the Imperial Family, were not seen to be divine. Rather than establish sovereignty by the manner of claimed godhood over the nation however, the <a href="/wiki/Emperor_of_Japan" title="Emperor of Japan">Emperor</a> and the Imperial Family stood as the bond between the heavens and the Earth by claims of descending from the Goddess <a href="/wiki/Amaterasu" title="Amaterasu">Amaterasu</a>, instead dealing in affairs related with the gods than any major secular political event, with few cases scattered about history. It was not until the <a href="/wiki/Meiji_period" class="mw-redirect" title="Meiji period">Meiji period</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Meiji_Restoration" title="Meiji Restoration">establishment</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Empire_of_Japan" title="Empire of Japan">Empire</a>, that the Emperor began to be venerated along with a growing sense of <a href="/wiki/Japanese_nationalism" title="Japanese nationalism">nationalism</a>. </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Arahitogami" title="Arahitogami">Arahitogami</a> – the concept of <i>a god who is a human being</i> applied to the <a href="/wiki/Hirohito" title="Hirohito">Emperor Shōwa</a> (Emperor Hirohito as he was known in the <a href="/wiki/Western_World" class="mw-redirect" title="Western World">Western World</a>), until the <a href="/wiki/End_of_World_War_II_in_Asia" title="End of World War II in Asia">end</a> of <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Humanity_Declaration" title="Humanity Declaration">Ningen-sengen</a> – the declaration with which the Emperor Shōwa, on New Year's Day 1946, (formally) declined claims of divinity, keeping with traditional <a href="/wiki/Family_values" title="Family values">family values</a> as expressed in the <a href="/wiki/Shinto" title="Shinto">Shinto</a> religion.</li></ul> <p>In the 16th, 19th, and 20th centuries, <a href="/wiki/Japanese_nationalism" title="Japanese nationalism">Japanese nationalist</a> <a href="/wiki/Philosophy" title="Philosophy">philosophers</a> paid special attention to the emperor and believed devotion to him and other political causes that furthered the Japanese state was "the greatest virtue".<sup id="cite_ref-:0_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, in the 14th century, most religious figures and philosophers in Japan thought that excessive veneration of the state and the emperor would consign one to hell.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_Southeast_Asia">Ancient Southeast Asia</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Ancient Southeast Asia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Devaraja" title="Devaraja">Devaraja</a> is the <a href="/wiki/Hindu" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindu">Hindu</a>-<a href="/wiki/Buddhist" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddhist">Buddhist</a> <a href="/wiki/Cult_(religious_practice)" title="Cult (religious practice)">cult</a> of <a href="/wiki/Divinity" title="Divinity">deified</a> <a href="/wiki/Royal_family" title="Royal family">royalty</a> in <a href="/wiki/Southeast_Asia" title="Southeast Asia">Southeast Asia</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-God_and_King_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-God_and_King-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is simply described as Southeast Asian concept of <a href="/wiki/God_king" title="God king">divine king</a>. The concept viewed the <a href="/wiki/Monarch" title="Monarch">monarch</a> (king) as the living god, the <a href="/wiki/Incarnation" title="Incarnation">incarnation</a> of the supreme god, often attributed to <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a> or <a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a>, on Earth. The concept is closely related to <a href="/wiki/Ancient_india" class="mw-redirect" title="Ancient india">Indian</a> concept of <a href="/wiki/Chakravartin" class="mw-redirect" title="Chakravartin">Chakravartin</a> (wheel turning monarch). In politics, it is viewed as the divine justification of a king's rule. The concept gained its elaborate manifestations in ancient <a href="/wiki/Java" title="Java">Java</a> and <a href="/wiki/History_of_Cambodia" title="History of Cambodia">Cambodia</a>, where monuments such as <a href="/wiki/Prambanan" title="Prambanan">Prambanan</a> and <a href="/wiki/Angkor_Wat" title="Angkor Wat">Angkor Wat</a> were erected to celebrate the king's divine rule on earth.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (September 2021)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>In the <a href="/wiki/Mataram_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Mataram Kingdom">Mataram</a> kingdom, it was customary to erect a <i><a href="/wiki/Candi_of_Indonesia" title="Candi of Indonesia">candi</a></i> (temple) to honor the soul of a deceased king. The image inside the <i><a href="/wiki/Garbhagriha" title="Garbhagriha">garbhagriha</a></i> (innermost sanctum) of the temple often portrayed the king as a god, since the soul was thought to be united with the god referred to, in <a href="/wiki/Svarga" title="Svarga"><i>svargaloka</i></a> (heaven). It is suggested that the cult was the fusion of Hinduism with native <a href="/wiki/Austronesian_people" class="mw-redirect" title="Austronesian people">Austronesian</a> <a href="/wiki/Ancestor_worship" class="mw-redirect" title="Ancestor worship">ancestor worship</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In Java, the tradition of the divine king extended to the <a href="/wiki/Kediri_(historical_kingdom)" class="mw-redirect" title="Kediri (historical kingdom)">Kediri</a>, <a href="/wiki/Singhasari" title="Singhasari">Singhasari</a> and <a href="/wiki/Majapahit" title="Majapahit">Majapahit</a> kingdoms in the 15th century. The tradition of public reverence to the <a href="/wiki/King_of_Cambodia" class="mw-redirect" title="King of Cambodia">King of Cambodia</a> and <a href="/wiki/King_of_Thailand" class="mw-redirect" title="King of Thailand">King of Thailand</a> is the continuation of this ancient devaraja cult. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Examples_of_divine_kings_in_history">Examples of divine kings in history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Examples of divine kings in history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951" /><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Sacred_king" title="Sacred king">Sacred king</a></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Hong_Xiuquan.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Hong_Xiuquan.jpg/100px-Hong_Xiuquan.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="113" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Hong_Xiuquan.jpg/150px-Hong_Xiuquan.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Hong_Xiuquan.jpg/200px-Hong_Xiuquan.jpg 2x" data-file-width="349" data-file-height="396" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Hong_Xiuquan" title="Hong Xiuquan">Hong Xiuquan</a> </figcaption></figure> <p>Some examples of historic leaders considered to have been divine kings are: </p> <ul><li>Africa <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pharaoh" title="Pharaoh">Pharaohs</a> of <a href="/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Ancient Egypt</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Shilluk_Kingdom" title="Shilluk Kingdom">Shilluk Kingdom</a> was ruled by a divine monarchy.</li> <li>Ghanas ("Kings") of the <a href="/wiki/Empire_of_Ghana" class="mw-redirect" title="Empire of Ghana">Empire of Ghana</a>.</li></ul></li> <li>Asia <ul><li><a href="/wiki/God_Worshipping_Society" title="God Worshipping Society">God Worshipping Society</a> leader <a href="/wiki/Hong_Xiuquan" title="Hong Xiuquan">Hong Xiuquan</a>, leader of the <a href="/wiki/Taiping_Rebellion" title="Taiping Rebellion">Taiping Rebellion</a>, claimed to be the younger brother of <a href="/wiki/Jesus" title="Jesus">Jesus</a> and attempted to establish rule as a divine king.</li> <li>Korean <a href="/wiki/Buddhist_monk" class="mw-redirect" title="Buddhist monk">Buddhist monk</a> <a href="/wiki/Gung-ye" class="mw-redirect" title="Gung-ye">Gung-ye</a>, King of <a href="/wiki/Taebong" title="Taebong">Taebong</a>.</li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Japanese_emperors" class="mw-redirect" title="Japanese emperors">Japanese emperors</a> up to the end of <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a>.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Java" title="Java">Javanese</a> kings during the Hindu-Buddhist era (4th–15th centuries AD), such as the <a href="/wiki/Sailendra" class="mw-redirect" title="Sailendra">Sailendra</a> dynasty, <a href="/wiki/Kediri_(historical_kingdom)" class="mw-redirect" title="Kediri (historical kingdom)">Kediri</a>, <a href="/wiki/Singhasari" title="Singhasari">Singhasari</a> and <a href="/wiki/Majapahit" title="Majapahit">Majapahit</a>.</li> <li>Kings of the <a href="/wiki/Khmer_Empire" title="Khmer Empire">Khmer Empire</a> in Cambodia.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Srivijaya" title="Srivijaya">Srivijaya</a> kings.</li></ul></li> <li>Americas <ul><li>Kings of the <a href="/wiki/Maya_civilization" title="Maya civilization">Maya</a> <a href="/wiki/Maya_city" class="mw-redirect" title="Maya city">city-states</a> of the Classical period.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sapa_Inca" title="Sapa Inca">Sapa Incas</a> in pre-Hispanic South America; considered descendants of the sun god <a href="/wiki/Inti" title="Inti">Inti</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul></li> <li>Oceania <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_monarchs_of_Hawaii" class="mw-redirect" title="List of monarchs of Hawaii">Kings</a> or <a href="/wiki/Alii" class="mw-redirect" title="Alii">Akua Aliʻi</a> of the Hawaiian Islands before 1839.</li></ul></li> <li>Europe <ul><li>Many <a href="/wiki/Roman_emperor" title="Roman emperor">Roman emperors</a> were declared gods by the <a href="/wiki/Roman_Senate" title="Roman Senate">Roman Senate</a> (generally after their death; see <a href="/wiki/Roman_imperial_cult" title="Roman imperial cult">Roman imperial cult</a>).</li></ul></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Fictional_examples">Fictional examples</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Fictional examples"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>In <a href="/wiki/Warhammer_40,000" title="Warhammer 40,000">Warhammer 40,000</a>, the Emperor of Mankind, immortal and perpetual ruler of the Imperium of Man, is worshiped as the deity of the state religion, although he waged a fierce campaign of strict <a href="/wiki/State_atheism" title="State atheism">state atheism</a> until the Horus Heresy when the Emperor successfully defeated his fallen son, Horus Lupercal, but was mortally wounded and forced to be interned within the Golden Throne in order to survive.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 29em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/American_civil_religion" title="American civil religion">American civil religion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apotheosis" title="Apotheosis">Apotheosis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Atenism" title="Atenism">Atenism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Buddhist_kingship" title="Buddhist kingship">Buddhist kingship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cult_of_personality" title="Cult of personality">Cult of personality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings" title="Divine right of kings">Divine right of kings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Emperor_of_Japan" title="Emperor of Japan">Emperor of Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Euhemerism" title="Euhemerism">Euhemerism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/God_complex" title="God complex">God complex</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/King-Emperor" title="King-Emperor">King-Emperor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mandate_of_Heaven" title="Mandate of Heaven">Mandate of Heaven</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nicolae_Ceausescu%27s_cult_of_personality" class="mw-redirect" title="Nicolae Ceausescu's cult of personality">Nicolae Ceausescu's cult of personality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/North_Korean_cult_of_personality" title="North Korean cult of personality">North Korean cult of personality</a></li></ul></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-:0-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFConlan2022" class="citation book cs1">Conlan, Thomas D. (2022). Spilling, Michael (ed.). <i>Samurai Weapons & Fighting Techniques</i>. London: Amber Books Ltd. p. 113. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1838862145" title="Special:BookSources/978-1838862145"><bdi>978-1838862145</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Samurai+Weapons+%26+Fighting+Techniques&rft.place=London&rft.pages=113&rft.pub=Amber+Books+Ltd&rft.date=2022&rft.isbn=978-1838862145&rft.aulast=Conlan&rft.aufirst=Thomas+D.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AImperial+cult" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-God_and_King-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-God_and_King_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFSengupta,_Arputha_Rani2005" class="citation book cs1">Sengupta, Arputha Rani, ed. (2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121209215215/http://easternbookcorporation.com/moreinfo.php?txt_searchstring=7306"><i>God and King: The Devaraja Cult in South Asian Art & Architecture</i></a>. National Museum Institute. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/8189233262" title="Special:BookSources/8189233262"><bdi>8189233262</bdi></a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.easternbookcorporation.com/moreinfo.php?txt_searchstring=7306">the original</a> on 9 December 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 September</span> 2012</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=God+and+King%3A+The+Devaraja+Cult+in+South+Asian+Art+%26+Architecture&rft.pub=National+Museum+Institute&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=8189233262&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.easternbookcorporation.com%2Fmoreinfo.php%3Ftxt_searchstring%3D7306&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AImperial+cult" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFDrs._R._Soekmono1988" class="citation book cs1">Drs. R. Soekmono (1988) [1973]. <i><span></span></i>Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2<i>, 2nd ed</i> (5th reprint ed.). Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius. p. 83.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Pengantar+Sejarah+Kebudayaan+Indonesia+2%2C+2nd+ed.&rft.place=Yogyakarta&rft.pages=83&rft.edition=5th+reprint&rft.pub=Penerbit+Kanisius&rft.date=1988&rft.au=Drs.+R.+Soekmono&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AImperial+cult" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 183.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wilfred Byford-Jones, <i>Four Faces of Peru</i>, Roy Publishers, 1967, pp. 17, 50.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFSharer,_Robert_J.Loa_P._Traxler2006" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Robert_Sharer" title="Robert Sharer">Sharer, Robert J.</a>; Loa P. Traxler (2006). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/ancientmaya0006shar"><i>The Ancient Maya</i></a></span> (6th (fully revised) ed.). Stanford, CA: <a href="/wiki/Stanford_University_Press" title="Stanford University Press">Stanford University Press</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0804748179" title="Special:BookSources/0804748179"><bdi>0804748179</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/57577446">57577446</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Ancient+Maya&rft.place=Stanford%2C+CA&rft.edition=6th+%28fully+revised%29&rft.pub=Stanford+University+Press&rft.date=2006&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F57577446&rft.isbn=0804748179&rft.au=Sharer%2C+Robert+J.&rft.au=Loa+P.+Traxler&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fancientmaya0006shar&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AImperial+cult" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Imperial_cult&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFAmeresekere1931" class="citation web cs1">Ameresekere, H. E. (July 1931). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160112200020/http://kataragama.org/docs/ameresekere.htm">"The Kataragama God: Shrines and Legends"</a>. <i>Ceylon Literary Register</i>. Kataragama.org. pp. <span class="nowrap">289–</span>292. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://kataragama.org/docs/ameresekere.htm">the original</a> on January 12, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 April</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Ceylon+Literary+Register&rft.atitle=The+Kataragama+God%3A+Shrines+and+Legends&rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E289-%3C%2Fspan%3E292&rft.date=1931-07&rft.aulast=Ameresekere&rft.aufirst=H.+E.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fkataragama.org%2Fdocs%2Fameresekere.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AImperial+cult" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFBaptist1997" class="citation web cs1">Baptist, Maria (Spring 1997). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080605225407/http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/godkings/rastafari.html">"The Rastafari"</a>. <i>Buried Cities and Lost Tribes</i>. Mesa Community College. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/godkings/rastafari.html">the original</a> on June 5, 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 April</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Buried+Cities+and+Lost+Tribes&rft.atitle=The+Rastafari&rft.ssn=spring&rft.date=1997&rft.aulast=Baptist&rft.aufirst=Maria&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mc.maricopa.edu%2Fdept%2Fd10%2Fasb%2Fanthro2003%2Fgodkings%2Frastafari.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AImperial+cult" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFEffland1997" class="citation web cs1">Effland, Richard (Spring 1997). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080605180212/http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/godkings/divking2.html">"Definition of Divine kingship"</a>. <i>Buried Cities and Lost Tribes</i>. Mesa Community College. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/godkings/divking2.html">the original</a> on June 5, 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 April</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Buried+Cities+and+Lost+Tribes&rft.atitle=Definition+of+Divine+kingship&rft.ssn=spring&rft.date=1997&rft.aulast=Effland&rft.aufirst=Richard&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mc.maricopa.edu%2Fdept%2Fd10%2Fasb%2Fanthro2003%2Fgodkings%2Fdivking2.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AImperial+cult" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFEfflandLerner1997" class="citation web cs1">Effland, Richard; Lerner, Shereen (Spring 1997). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080705145031/http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/godkings/godking2.html">"The World of God Kings"</a>. <i>Buried Cities and Lost Tribes</i>. Mesa Community College. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/godkings/godking2.html">the original</a> on July 5, 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">20 April</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Buried+Cities+and+Lost+Tribes&rft.atitle=The+World+of+God+Kings&rft.ssn=spring&rft.date=1997&rft.aulast=Effland&rft.aufirst=Richard&rft.au=Lerner%2C+Shereen&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mc.maricopa.edu%2Fdept%2Fd10%2Fasb%2Fanthro2003%2Fgodkings%2Fgodking2.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AImperial+cult" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFMarglin1989" class="citation book cs1">Marglin, F. A. (1989). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/wivesofgodkingt00marg_0"><i>Wives of the God-King: The Rituals of the Devadasis of Puri</i></a></span>. 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