ABSTRACT
The historical background is quite different for the emperors than it is for the kings. The office of Roman emperor had appeared with the ending of the Roman Republic and the emergence of the first emperor, Augustus. There is clear evidence that, from its beginnings, the office of Roman emperor was bound up with pagan beliefs. The emperor had a particular role in pagan religion, for he was the chief priest. The boldest interpretation of this object is that of Michael J. Enright who interprets the sceptre as deeply rooted in pagan Celtic religion. A sun-cult is suggested by the fact that other whetstones are decorated with swastikas, which are symbols of the sun. Christianity had the potential to be a rich source for the ideology of power. Jesus Christ was himself regarded as a king, the king of the Jews, and successor to King David in the Old Testament of the Bible.
