Just as Rome itself claimed the favour of the gods, so did some individual Romans. In the mid-to-late Republican era, and probably much earlier, many of Rome's leading clans acknowledged a divine or semi-divine ancestor and laid personal claim to their favour and cult, along with a share of their divinity. Most notably in the very late Republic, the Julii claimed Venus Genetrix as ancestor; this would be one of many foundations for the Imperial cult. The claim was further elaborated and justified in Vergil's poetic, Imperial vision of the past. COUNT 5
QSN1 What did many Romans claim in the Republican era? ANS1 divine ancestor QSN2 What style of claim did Romans favor as a link to the gods? ANS2 personal claim QSN3 Of what were such claims of deity relations the start? ANS3 Imperial cult QSN4 What deity did the Julii claim as an ancestor? ANS4 Venus Genetrix QSN5 What author further elaborated on the imperial claim of godhood?  ANS5 Vergil