The papers in this selection of studies range in subject matter from early Judaic magic to an inscribed monument of the Neo-Classical period. The principal emphasis of the collection is nevertheless on religious developments under the High Roman Empire: problems arising from the interpretation of oriental cults imported from the Hellenistic East but primarily the development of imperial cult, the one universal religion of the empire before the coming of Christianity.

Duncan Fishwick is Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta, Canada.

Contents: Preface; Part I Divinity and Power: Votive offerings to the emperor; Prudentius and the cult of Divus Augustus; Ovid and Divus Augustus; Seneca and the temple of Divus Claudius; Soldier and emperor; A silver aedicula at Mérida; The deification of Claudius. Part II The Imperial Numen: The imperial numen in Britain; Numen Augusti; Le numen impérial en Afrique romaine; Numinibus Aug(ustorum); Numen Augustum; Numinibus domus divinae. Part III The Imperial Cult: Review and Discussion: Review of S.R.F. Price, Rituals and Power. The Roman Imperial Cult in Asia Minor; A critical assessment: on the imperial cult in Religions of Rome. Part IV Rituals and Ceremonies: The Cannophori and the March festival of Magna Mater; Hastiferi; Pliny and the Christians: the rites ad imaginem principis; Un don de statues d'argent à Narbo Martius; Imperial processions at Augusta Emerita. Part V Ainigmata: An early Christian cryptogram; The Talpioth ossuaries again; On the origin of the Rotas-Sator square; Un code secret à Shugborough Hall?; Indexes.