The Imperial Cult in the Latin West: Studies in the Ruler Cult of the Western Provinces. Volume Three: Provincial Cult; Part One: Institution and Evolution

The Imperial Cult in the Latin West: Studies in the Ruler Cult of the Western Provinces. Volume Three: Provincial Cult; Part One: Institution and Evolution. By Duncan Fishwick. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2002. Pp. xvi + 259. Cloth, $137.00.

The Imperial Cult in the Latin West: Studies in the Ruler Cult of the Western Provinces. Volume Three: Provincial Cult; Part Two: The Provincial Priesthood. By Duncan Fishwick. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2002. Pp. 324. Cloth, $144.00.

The Imperial Cult in the Latin West: Studies in the Ruler Cult of the Western Provinces. Volume Three: Provincial Cult; Part Three: The Provincial Centre; Provincial Cult. By Duncan Fishwick. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2004. Pp. 397. Cloth, $150.00.

The Imperial Cult in the Latin West: Studies in the Ruler Cult of the Western Provinces. Volume Three: Provincial Cult; Part Four: Bibliography, Indices, Addenda. By Duncan Fishwick. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2005. Pp. 256. Cloth, $136.00.

This is an astonishingly thorough treatment of the question concerning the divinization of the Roman Emperor in the West (France, Germany, Spain, Britian). The course of this process in the Greek East is well charted, and in this series of books Fishwick accomplishes that for the Latin West. In Part One of this four volume set, Institution and Evolution, Fishwick relies mostly on Latin inscriptions to show that the idea and impetus for foundation of the imperial cult, and its promotion, came almost exclusively from the top. This was accomplished through the dissemination of legal and ritual prescriptions as well as of iconographic or architectural models. Says Fishwick, "The overall impression one has in retrospect, then, is of central orchestration and control" (Part One, p. 219).

Fishwick illustrates how this process was a gradual one, occurring in stages over a couple of hundred years. The first stage occurs in 31 BCE-14 CE (Fishwick has the unfortunate practice of using B.C. and A.D.)--the rule of Augustus. In this period, we find evidence of exclusively civic cults developing into worship of the living Emperor, but no evidence of regional, or broader, cults, councils or priests. The second stage brings, for the first time, the deified Emperor (14-69 CE)--from Tiberius to the start of the Flavian Dynasty. In the third stage (69-96 CE), the Flavians move towards the standardization of the imperial cult, evidenced by the disappearance of local variation. This stage also sees the dual worship of emperors living and deified, a practice that will continue in other periods in many locations. The fourth stage (96 -193 CE), under the Antonines, is characterized by extension and consolidation. There are minor modifications made that reflect the political needs of a particular dynasty, as well as the extension of the cult across the Danube. Finally (193-284 CE), in the revolution that leads to the Severan dynasty, the focus turns exclusively towards worship of the living emperor.

In Part Two, Fishwick's focus turns from the evolution of the Imperial cult in the Roman west to the nature of its provincial priesthoods. Fishwick opens, naturally enough, with a discussion and presentation of the charter of Gallia Narbonensis--the longest and most detailed surviving account of the rights and responsibilities of provincial priests (flamines). Though this is our best piece of evidence for this period, Fishwick reasonably suggests that the rules and regulations laid out in it are likely standard across the provinces. Indeed, the evidence he amasses for the nature of the priesthood in the provinces of the Roman west will show sufficient echoes and reflections with the Lex Narbonensis to make this a fair assumption.

In 16 chapters in this part, Part Two looks at sixteen provinces in the Roman west: Tres Galliae, Hispania citerior, Lusitania, Gallia Narbonensis, Africa Proconsularis, Mauretania Caesariensis, Mauretania Tingitana, Sardinia, Baetica, Alpes Cottiae, Alpes Maritimae, Dacia, Pannonia superior, Pannonia inferior, Moesia inferior, and Dalmatia. Where the material evidence allows (which is often but not always), Fishwick addresses the same topics for each province: the epigraphic record and other sources, honorific statues, priestly titles, origin and social background of provincial priests, their careers, the priestly office and the title by which the priest is known, provincial priestesses, federal and provincial officials, chronology of that provincial priesthood, office and duties, administrative officials.

Though the evidence is lacking in some provinces and plentiful in others, Fishwick argues that there is enough of it over all to allow for tentative conclusions to be drawn about the provincial priesthood. Though there are some literary sources (such as Livy), inscriptions, usually found on statues and monuments honoring formers holders of the office, provide the most information about these offices. At other times, a priest might leave a record of his (or her) career, or s/he might leave a votive inscription that offers us details of his/her office and career.