ABSTRACT
In the Roman world, just as military success was understood to be proof of divine favour, so the emperor’s relationship with the divine was seen as the key to his success. The representation of that relationship, to be found on the coins, inscriptions and monuments of the period, was thus central to the legitimation of an emperor’s power. Under Aurelian, these ideas reached new heights and in particular found expression in the association of the emperor with a new solar religion. This must be understood in the context of the conservatism of both Aurelian and his age, and against the backdrop of continued emphasis on the traditional Roman pantheon and the imperial ruler cult. Such was the importance placed on these ideas that those who obstinately refused to participate in such activities were seen as jeopardizing the safety of the empire as well as committing treason and sacrilege.
