William O. Stephens

It's not like that at all.

And yet there is this kind of paterfamilias, you know, the grandfather is responsible for all generations after him.

And so to be king is to be a father to everyone.

And they don't get to vote.

Your word is law.

And then this is also wrapped up, of course, with Roman religion, because the emperors are considered to be gods.

Well, exactly.

And so when it comes to orthopraxy, when it comes to the rituals and the ceremonial practices in the religious festivals that the Romans practiced, they would sacrifice to the emperor, right?

They were deways.

They were divinities.

So it's even more exalted than that of our Pope today.

Right.

Right.

So, yes, he's the head of the church.

Yes.

But in addition to that, he's got this aura.

He's got this divine glow and people sacrifice to him as a God.

And so, I mean, as you're saying, I mean, I think it's exactly right.

Everyone around you is a sycophant.

they're not going to tell you tough love things that might offend you because they've seen what happens when you become the most powerful person in the empire.