After his assassination in 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was not just mourned he was deified. Caesar’s deification was solidified when a comet appeared during his funeral games, which many Romans believed was a sign of his divine ascension. This celestial event fueled the idea that Caesar had become a god, leading to his official deification by the Roman Senate in 42 BCE. His adopted son, Octavian (later Augustus), cleverly used Caesar’s new status as a god to enhance his own political position, presenting himself as the "son of a god." Caesar’s deification was more than just a religious gesture it became a powerful political tool that would shape the imperial cult and provide legitimacy to future Roman emperors who would follow in his footsteps, blurring the line between mortal and divine rulers.

Chapters:
00:00:00 Assassination and Deification
00:00:06 The Comet's Significance
00:00:14 Official Deification
00:00:23 Octavian's Political Strategy
00:00:34 Political Tool of Deification

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