Cults | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/cults/RSS feed for CultsenThu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000A Cult Grew Around the First Emperor of Rome in 27 B.C. A New Book Argues His Followers Might Have Created the Template for Christianityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/cult-grew-around-first-emperor-rome-27-bce-new-book-argues-followers-created-template-christ-180989647/Augustus was seen as a descendant of the gods who would go on to redefine authority. New research posits that his rule paved the way for JesusThu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/cult-grew-around-first-emperor-rome-27-bce-new-book-argues-followers-created-template-christ-180989647/