Embodying Empire: Imperial Cult in the early Han and Roman Empires is an investigation of the role of state-sponsored religion in the formation of empire and in the production of imperial ideology. As distinct from ruler cult, I define imperial cult as cult activity worshiped both by the emperor and on his authority. The early years of the Qin, Han, and Roman empires saw imperially-sponsored cult increase dramatically, and saw the positioning of the person of the emperor at the centre of all cult activity.
Examining the expansion of cult practices, calendrical reforms, and spectacular performances, the dissertation uncovers the processes in the transformation of imperial cult to fit the changing needs of a nascent empire. Rather than seeking parallels in belief systems or cult practice, the dissertation exposes the similarities in the ways in which religion both shaped and communicated a new imperial order. The juxtaposition of the two societies reveals not only the similarities and differences in these processes, but also the biases of historical sources and subsequent scholarship in both fields.