The new cult of the Roman Emperor was introduced by the Roman colonists shortly after their arrival. Soon the Emperor was even deified. In his memoirs Emperor Augustus mentions the deeds of the divus Augustus, the divine August. Later on, emperors were venerated as gods soon after they had taken office. In the first century CE monuments were erected in Philippi in honour of the Caesarean family, and in the second century temples were even built in their honour. Priests were appointed, holidays were