Provincial subjects adapted traditional divine cults to worship distant ruling humans

Evidence

In essence, the cults of the gods provided the perfect template for a response to something / someone that (1) had power over you, (2) exercised that power from outside your city, and (3) was culturally like you. — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 338

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Stephen Kershaw, A Brief History of the Roman Empire, 338
• XREF: connects to: Successful conquerors often adopt local symbols of power. — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 380; Different cultures use religious objects to connect with the divine — Neil MacGregor, A History of the World in 100 Objects, 1028