The Roman Imperial Cult and Jews

Abstract

The Roman imperial cult, with its religious and political functions, determined the relationship of dominance and loyalty between Rome and its subjects. It was practiced in various forms throughout the empire by being adapted to local beliefs. The imperial cult was not imposed on any community. However, its special meaning required every province, city and community in the empire to participate in this cult. Herod initiated the imperial cult in three cities of Palestine. The Jews also demonstrated their loyalty to Rome with their own rituals and honors in synagogues and in the Temple in Jerusalem. For this reason, Jews did not have problems with Rome regarding the imperial cult, but in conflicts between Jews and Greeks in Hellenistic cities, this cult was used as a political tool against the Jews. Mutual attacks on identity symbols by Greeks and Jews brought Jews into confrontation with Rome. Caligula's order to erect a statue of Zeus in the Temple of Jerusalem threatened the sanctity and exclusivity of the Temple for Jews. The imperial cult, as a ruler cult, revived the political ideology based on the Jewish tradition of divine monarchy and played a role in shaping anti–Roman rebellion ideology. This study examines how the imperial cult was perceived in Jewish society, why it became a threat to Jews, and how Jews responded to it.

Keywords

• Roman imperial cult
• Jews
• Palestine
• Jerusalem
• Philo
• Josephus

Roma İmparator Kültü ve Yahudiler

Abstract

Roma imparator kültü, dinî ve politik işlevleriyle Roma ile tebaası arasında hâkimiyet ve sadakat ilişkisini belirledi. Yerel inanışlara uyarlanarak imparatorlukta çeşitli şekillerde uygulandı. İmparator kültünün başlatılması ve uygulanması için imparatorluk halkı zorlanmadı ancak özel anlamı imparatorluktaki her eyaletin, şehrin ve topluluğun bu külte katılmasını gerektiriyordu. Roma yönetiminde Yahudiler atalarının geleneklerini takip etme haklarından dolayı pagan kültlere katılmak zorunda değillerdi. Ancak bu yeni külte özel anlamından dolayı katılmak zorunda kaldılar. Roma’nın kral olarak atadığı Herodes, Palaestina’daki üç kentte imparator kültü başlattı. Yahudiler de diasporadaki sinagoglarda ve Kudüs'teki Tapınak’ta kendilerine özgü ritüeller ve onurlandırmalarla Roma'ya sadakatlerini gösterdiler. Bu nedenle Yahudiler imparator kültü ile ilişkilerinde Roma yönetimiyle sorun yaşamadılar ancak Hellenistik kentlerde Yahudiler ile Hellenler arasındaki çeşitli sorunlarda bu kült Yahudiler aleyhine politik bir araç olarak kullanıldı. Hellenler ve Yahudilerin karşılıklı olarak kimlik sembollerine saldırıları Yahudileri Roma’yla karşı karşıya getirdi. Caligula’nın Kudüs’teki Tapınak’a bir Zeus heykeli yerleştirme emriyle Kudüs ve Tapınak’ın Yahudilere özgülüğü ve kutsallığı tehdit edildi. İmparator kültü, Roma gücünü ve azametini tapınaklarda ibadet edilen imparatorların şahsında toplayan bir hükümdar kültü olarak Yahudi tanrısal monarşi geleneğine dayalı politik ideolojiyi yeniden gündeme getirdi ve Roma karşıtı isyan ideolojisinin şekillenmesinde etkili oldu. Bu çalışma Yahudi toplumunun farklı sosyal politik katmanlarında imparator kültünün nasıl algılandığını, bu kültün neden Yahudiler için bir tehdite dönüştüğünü ve Yahudilerin bu külte nasıl tepki gösterdiklerini incelemektedir.

Keywords

• Roma imparator kültü
• Yahudiler
• Palaestina
• Kudüs
• Philo
• Iosephus

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