(Untitled)

[felis_ultharus]

Some Dalits in the village of Bankagaon are building a temple to the English language, deified as a goddess

Comments

[helenseidolon]

That is super interesting! I reposted it on facebook (with credit given).

It's a really interesting parallel to what people think about imperial cult nowadays - sure, it encouraged deference to the emperor and all, but it was often the impetus of locals (local elites, anyway) and empowered them within the imperial system.

[felis_ultharus]

That is interesting. I think mos people who've given it any thought just assume that the imperial cults were stronger in the metropolis, rather than the hinterland.

[helenseidolon]

I guess it depends on how you define 'hinterland' and 'metropolis'. Imperial cult took hold much faster and with more vigour in the east,so if you mean 'Rome' by metropolis, then yeah. I suspect that it was still more popular in big cities in the east than in the rural areas, though.

[felis_ultharus]

That's really interesting. Thank you!