After Augustus, the first Roman princeps, the Senate could vote deceased emperors into divine status. Such an apotheosis, of course, served the political interests of the emperor’s successors, who could claim a godly lineage while aspiring to be raised to godlike status themselves.
与芸芸众生不同，独裁者确实更可能享受死后荣光。在古埃及，死去的法老会做成木乃伊放入神庙。在罗马第一公民奥古斯都之后，元老院可以投票赋予驾崩皇帝圣人地位。当然，如此崇拜是为了满足皇帝继任者的政治利益，他可以自称神授君权，同时还可以授予自己神圣地位。