Apotheosis consisted of investing an emperor or other monarch with divine characteristics.
Apotheosis is a term that derives from the Latin apotheōsis and that finds its most remote origin in a Greek word that can be translated as “deification.” The concept may refer to the granting of the dignity of gods to heroes .
Apotheosis consisted, in the ancient world, of a ceremony that invested some mortal (such as an emperor or other monarch) with divine characteristics. This meant that those virtuous men, after their death, ascended to a category of gods. It is important to note that in many cultures apotheosis was also practiced with the figures who ruled, kings , queens, princes and princesses who were desired to be remembered for some type of memorable action carried out during their mandate.
The Greeks, for example, not only offered solemn and majestic funerals to the great men of their time, but also elevated them and gave them divine honors through apotheosis.
Beginning and end of apotheosis rituals
These types of ceremonies have their origins in Ancient Greece and have been inherited by other cultures, such as the Romans. However, in the case of the Greeks, deity was granted to the hero through an oracle , while the Romans did so through a decree of the senate.
There was, in turn, an extreme relationship between the worshiped figures and the constellations; To such an extent that it was believed that when one of them died, they would occupy a place in the firmament. When Julius Caesar died, for example, a paradoxical event took place; At the time he was murdered a new comet was circulating in the sky, the Stella Crinita . This gave even stronger to the people's already belief in the deity of this man who had been taken from them. The faith of the people was affirmed by the evidence and the apotheosis acquired irrevocable force. Starting with Caesar , the rest of the emperors who followed him were automatically placed on a pedestal , considered gods for the people .
When Christianity is established and gains a large number of followers, the divinity of these public figures is questioned; Suddenly it seemed as if the people stopped believing that human creatures with supernatural powers could exist. However, what happened was that power and respect began to be placed in bishops and saints and no longer in those who governed the regions.
Nowadays, the concept of apotheosis usually refers to great enthusiasm.
Current meanings of the term
The notion, currently and by extension of this classical meaning, is used to name the exaggerated praise or adulation of a person: “The apotheosis of the singer in his homeland became evident from the last series of concerts he offered. in the local theater” , “The truth is that I have my feet on the ground and I do not believe in any apotheosis, beyond the good intentions of the people” , “Some officials celebrate the apotheosis of their superiors with the intention to achieve a promotion .
It is worth mentioning that today the term apotheosis is used to refer to a manifestation of great enthusiasm that takes place at some point during an event, a celebration or another type of collective act. We leave you two representative examples of this last case: “With the striker's last goal, the apotheosis arrived,” “The public shouted and applauded in the middle of the apotheosis.”