Page "Claudius" Paragraph 40

Claudius, as the author of a treatise on Augustus ' religious reforms, felt himself in a good position to institute some of his own.

He had strong opinions about the proper form for state religion.

He refused the request of Alexandrian Greeks to dedicate a temple to his divinity, saying that only gods may choose new gods.

He restored lost days to festivals and got rid of many extraneous celebrations added by Caligula.

He re-instituted old observances and archaic language.

Claudius was concerned with the spread of eastern mysteries within the city and searched for more Roman replacements.

He emphasized the Eleusinian mysteries which had been practiced by so many during the Republic.

He expelled foreign astrologers, and at the same time rehabilitated the old Roman soothsayers ( known as haruspices ) as a replacement.

He was especially hard on Druidism, because of its incompatibility with the Roman state religion and its proselytizing activities.