Rome: A History Of The Eternal City – Bbc4

[naomi24]

This was mentioned in an earlier thread. For anyone who watched it, did you spot the foundations of a trend? Overlooking the murder of Remus by his brother Romulus (Cain and Abel spring to mind), Julius Caesar was declared a God, and his nephew and adopted son, Octavius (Octavian), later to become Augustus Caesar – he of biblical fame - was subsequently declared ‘Son of God’ – and all this many years before the councils assembled by Constantine formulated the doctrine of the Christian Church and the Holy Trinity. This, as yet, hasn’t been picked up by the presenter, and I don’t know if it will surface in future episodes, but for any student of religious history it’s something to think about. Oh, what a tangled web……

[jomifl]

A good point Naomi I take it that you found it interesting. Those Italians sure know how to do politics.

[Delaval]

I believe that it was the emperor Nero who, after being stabbed, exclaimed before he died, "Vae, deus fio" (Alas, I am becoming a god).

[failedagain]

That was Vespasian, dying of a fever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespasian#Death_.2879.29). Nero supposedly said "Qualis artifex pereo" ("What an artist dies in me!").

[naomi24]

jom, yes, I found it extremely interestng. Did you watch it?

[beso]

Political leaders achieving God status goes back a long way, at least to the Egyptian Pharaohs.

Some modern ones still act like they think they are gods.

[beso]

Genghis Khan thought he was a god.

Religion and politics have always been intertwined.

[jomifl]

A fascinating programme this week, so it was Constantine who opted for christianity and began appropriating pagan festivals for the use of christians. The beauty of christianity for an emperor is that devotees only get their rewards for being good when they are dead and he only has to control access to one g rather than hundreds. A bit of a 'no brainer' really.