406 CALLIA RULMU period Thessalonica shared with Rome the veneration of a number of divinities. For instance, there is evidence that the Greek gods Castor and Pollux were venerated in both the Capitol and in the Macedonian city (cf. Suetonius, Tib. 20, and Dio Cassius 55.27.4) 53. Modern critics unanimously agree that the Cult of the Emperor was widespread in Asia Minor. Donfried reiterates the “ three pieces of evidence” already mentioned by Judge 54 some fifteen years before: (i) an oath of loyalty by the inhabitants of Paphlagonia to the Caesarian house: “I swear ... that I will support Caesar Augustus, his children and descendants, throughout my life, in word, deed and thought ... that in whatsoever concerns them I will spare neither body nor soul nor life nor children ... that whenever I see or hear of anything being said, planned or done against them I will report it ... and whomsoever they regard as enemies I will attack and pursue with arms and the sword by land and by sea”; (ii) a Cypriot oath to Tiberius on his enthronement : “what is new here are the specific pledges to reverence (Sebasesuai) and obedience (ypakoysesuai and ¥ ß ¥ peiuarxesein) ” ; Judge concludes that “a formula of this kind ¥ might be sufficient to lead to the Thessalonians treating the oath as a ‘decree’ of Caesar” 55 ; (iii) an inscription from Samos which suggests that local magistrates were administering the oath of loyalty and even receiving complaints if offence were perceived to have occurred against the abovementioned oath 56. As for the evidence of an actual presence of the Cult of the Emperor in Thessalonica in Paul’s time, Jim R. Harrison 57 draws our attention to an epigraphic record and some numismatic evidences : an inscription, which belonged to a temple to Caesar, witnessing the presence of a designated priest and superintendent Romanisierung Nordmakedoniens im Spiegel der Götterkulte”, Ancient Mace- donia III (Institute for Balkan Studies. Papers read at the Third International Symposium, 21-25 September 1977; Thessaloniki 1983) 77-87. J.S. KLOPPENBORG, “FILADELFIA, UEODIDAKTOS and the Dios- 53 curi : Rhetorical Engagement in 1 Thessalonians 4.9-12”, NTS 39 (1993) 285. E.A. JUDGE, “The Decrees of Caesar at Thessalonica”, RTR 30 (1971) 54 1-7. JUDGE, “The Decrees”, 7. 55 DONFRIED, “The Cults”, 33. 56 J.R. HARRISON, “Paul and the Imperial Gospel at Thessaloniki”, JSNT 57 25 (2002) 71-96.