Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

APOTHEOSIS. APOTHEOSIS. 105
They had the power, in certain cases, of imprison- occasion a semblance of minurning, combin Al
img the trierarchs who neglected to furnish the with festival and religious observances, is visible
ships properly (Dem. epro (bor. p. 262); and they throughout the city. The body of the dead they
constituted a board, in conjunction with the in- honour after human fashion, with a splendid
spectors of the docks (oi'Cov VeWpfiv'WY ErqeAxr7ral), funeral; and making a waxen image in all respects
for the prosecution of all matters relating to the resembling him, they expose it to view in the
equipment of the ships. (Dem. c. Euerg. p. 1147; vestibule of the palace, on a lofty ivory couch of
Meier, Att. Process, p. 112; Biickh, Publ..Econ. great size, spread with cloth of gold. The figure
of Athens, p. 543.) is made pallid, like a sick man. During most of
APOTHE'CAi (&7roOlKc), a place in the upper the day senators sit round the bed on the left side,
part of the house, in which the Romans frequently clothed in black; and noble women on the right,
placed the earthen amphorae in which their wines clothed in plain white garments, like mourners,
were deposited. This place, which was quite wearing no gold or necklaces. These ceremonies
different from the cella visairia, was above the. continue for seven days; and the physicians sevefiislmariZin; since it was, thought that the passage rally approach the couch, and looking on the sick
of the smoke through the room tended greatly to man, say that he grows worse and worse. And
increase the flavour of the wine. (Colunl. i. 6. when they have made believe that he is dead, the
~ 20; tior. Corm. iii. 8. 11, Sat. ii. 5. 7, and noblest of the equestrian and chosen youths of the
Heindorf's note.) The position of the apotheca senatorial orders take up the couch, and bear it
explains the expression in Horace (Carm. iii. 21. along the Via Sacra, and expose it in the old
7), Descende, testa. (Comp. Becker, Gallus, vol. ii. forum. Platforms like steps are built upon each
p. 169.) side; on one of which stands a chorus of noble
APOTI-IEO'SIS (3&roOE'ools), the enrolnent of youths, and on the opposite, a chorus of women of
a mortal among the gods. The mythology of high rank, who sing hymns and songs of praise
Greece contains numerous instances of the deifica- to the deceased, modulated in a solemn and mourntion of mortals; but in the republican times of full strain. Afterwards they bear the couch
Greece we find few examples of such deification. through the city to the Campus Martius, in the
The inhabitants of Amphipolis, however, offered broadest part of which a square pile is constructed
sacrifices to Brasidas after his death (Thulc. v. entirely of logs of timber of the largest size, in the
11); and the people of Egeste built an /herouzn to shape of a chamber, filled with faggots, and on the
Philippus, and also offered sacrifices to him on ac- outside adorned with hangings interwoven with
count of his personal beauty. (Herod. v. 47.) In gold and ivory images and pictures. Upon this, a
the Greek kingdoms, which arose in the East ons similar but smaller chamber is built, with open
the dismemberment of the empire of Alexander, it doors and windows, and above it, a third and
does not appear to have been uncommon for the suc- fourth, still diminishing to the top, so that one
cessor to the throne to have offered divine lionours might compare it to the light-houses which are
to the former sovereign. Such an apotheosis of called Phari. In the second story they place a
Ptolemy, king of Egypt, is described by Theo- bed, ald collect all sorts of aromatics and incense,
critus in his 17th Idyl. (See Casaubon's note on and every sort of fragrant fruit or herb or juice;
Suet. Jul. Caes. 88.) for all cities, and nations, and persons of eminence
The term apotheosis, among the Romans,, pro- emulate each other in contributing these last gifts
perly signified the elevation of a deceased emperor in honour of the emperor. And when a vast heap
to divine hoenours. This practice, which was com- of aromatics is collected, there is a procession of
mon upon the death of almost all the emperors, horsemen and of chariots around the pile, with the
appears to have arisen from the opinion, which was drivers clothed in robes of office, and wearing
generally entertained aniong the Romans, that the masks made to resemble the most distinguished
souls or manes of their ancestors became deities; Roman generals and emperors. When all this is
and as it was common for children to worship the done, the others set fire to it on every side, which
manes of their fathers, so it was natural for divine easily catches hold of the fMggots and aromatics;
honours to be publicly paid to a deceased emperor, and from the highest and smallest story, as fromn
who was regarded as the parent of his country. a pinnacle, an eagle is let loose to mount into the
This apotheosis of an emperor was usually called sky as the fire ascends, which is believed by the
conzsecratio; and the emperor who received the Romans to carry the soul of the emperor from
honour of an apotheosis, was said in deorm nu- earth to heaven; and from that time he is wornerum reefb1ri, or conseerari. In the earliest times shipped with the other gods."
Romulus is said to have been admitted to divine In conformity with this account, it is common
llonours under the name of Quirinus (Plst. Rose. to see on medals struck in honour of an apotheosis
27, 28; Liv. i. 16; Cic. de Rep. ii. 10); but none an altar with fire oil it, and an eagle, the bird of
of the other Roman kings appears to have received Jupiter, taking flight into the air. The number of
this honour, and in the republican times we also medals of this description is very numerous. We
read of no instance of an apotheosis. Julius Caesar can from these medals alone trace the names of
was deified after his death, and games were insti- sixty individuals, who received the honours of an
tuted to his honour by Augustus (Suet. Jul. Caes. apotheosis, from the time of Julius Caesar to that
188); and the example thus set was followed in of Constantinle the Great. On most of them the
the case of the other emperors. word CONSECRATIO occurs, and on some Greek
The cerelmonies observed on the occasion of coins the word A$IEPrICI:. The following woodan apotheosis have been minutely described by cut is taken from an agate, which is supposed to
Herodian (iv. 2) in the following passage:- represent the apotheosis of Germanicus. (MontIt is the custom of the Romans to deify those faucon, Ant. ErTsph. Suppl. vol. v. p. 137.) In his
of their emperors who die, leaving successors; left hand he holds the cornucopia, and Victory is
sand this rite they call apotheosis. On this placing a laurel crown upon him.