deification of Julius Caesar

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The deification of Julius Caesar is the mytho-political episode in which the assassinated Roman dictator is transformed into a god and star in the heavens, symbolizing his apotheosis and the divine sanction of his legacy.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
deification of Julius Caesar canonical 1

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Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Roman religious event
apotheosis
political-religious phenomenon
associatedWith Comet of 44 BC
linked to: Caesar’s comet

Sidus Iulium
connectedTo Hellenistic traditions of ruler deification
Roman practice of ruler cult
coreBelief Caesar appeared as a star or comet
Caesar became a god after death
Caesar’s soul ascended to the heavens
documentedIn Augustan poetry
Roman coinage
literary sources of the late Republic
followed Caesar’s funeral games
grantedTitle Divus Iulius
hasAspect astral symbolism
imperial propaganda
mytho-political episode
state cult
hasCultTitle Divus Julius
linked to: Divus Iulius
hasDate 42 BC
hasLocation Roman Forum
Temple of Divus Iulius
hasRepresentation coins showing comet with star
cult images in the Temple of Divus Iulius
inscriptions honoring Divus Iulius
hasRituals festivals in honor of Divus Iulius
public sacrifices
influenced Roman imperial cult
imperial cult of Augustus
interpretedAs sign of divine favor for Caesar
sign of divine favor for Octavian
legitimized political authority of Octavian
mainSubject Julius Caesar
politicalFunction justification of one-man rule
legitimation of the Julio-Claudian dynasty
preceded formal establishment of the imperial cult
providedTitleFor Divi filius
recognizedBy Roman Senate
Roman people
linked to: Romans
religiousFunction elevation of Julius Caesar to divine status
symbolizedBy comet
star in the heavens
temple cult statue with star
tookPlaceAfter assassination of Julius Caesar
tookPlaceIn ancient Rome
linked to: Roman Antiquity
usedBy Augustus
Octavian
linked to: Augustus

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ovid’s Metamorphoses closingEpisode deification of Julius Caesar