“No intelligent person, the sophisticated pagan might have explained, actually worshiped images of the gods, or worshiped living emperors; instead, the gods’ images – and the images of the emperors themselves – provided an accessible focus for revering the cosmic forces they represented.”

“No intelligent person, the sophisticated pagan might have explained, actually worshiped images of the gods, or worshiped living emperors; instead, the gods’ images – and the images of the emperors themselves – provided an accessible focus for revering the cosmic forces they represented.”

— Elaine Pagels