under a practice called evocatio, the Romans would take possession of an enemy's temple-and therefore its god, for the two were inextricable in the ancient world-and transfer it to Rome, where it would be showered with riches and lavish sacrifices. Such displays were meant to send a clear signal that the hostilities were directed not toward the enemy's god but toward its fighters; the god would continue to be honored and worshipped in Rome if only his devotees would lay down their arms and allow themselves to be absorbed into the empire.
( Reza Aslan )
[ Zealot: The Life and Times of ]
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