The most original cult of the Romans was the cult of genius. As a guardian deity, he was born along with a man, he guided his good and bad fortune. He was shown as a young man in a toga, with a veil on his face, a cup and a cornucopia.
Each man was thought to have his own individual genius. Offerings were made to him on his birthday – hence Christians initially suppressed the celebration of birthdays, as it is a pagan holiday in honour of their own genius (the Christian substitute is name day, a holiday in honour of the godfather of the patron saint).
The genius was offered food and drink. The cult of genius played a special role in the Empire when the genius of the ruler was honoured.
