in antiquity, a heathen ceremony, whereby their emperors and great men were placed among the gods. The word is derived from ἀπό, and θεός, God.

After the apotheosis which they also called deification and consecration, temples, altars, and images were erected to the new deity; sacrifices, &c. were offered, and colleges of priests instituted.

It was one of the doctrines of Pythagoras, which he had borrowed from the Chaldees, that virtuous persons after their death were raised into the order of the gods. And hence the ancients deified all the inventors of things useful to mankind; and those who had done any important services to the commonwealth. Tiberius proposed to the Roman senate the apotheosis of Jesus Christ; as is related by Eusebius, Tertullian, and Chrysostom.

Juvenal rallying the frequent apotheoses, introduces poor Atlas, complaining that he was ready to sink under the burden of so many new gods as were every day added to the heavens. Seneca ridicules the apotheosis of Claudius with admirable humour.

The ceremony, according to Herodian's description,