A metropolis demanded tribute and military support from its subject cities but left their local cults and customs unaffected.
We learn much as to these magistrates from the large number of inscriptions that have been found (over 2000 in Ostia and Portus taken together) and also as to the cults.
The belief in human immortality in some form is almost universal; even in early animistic cults the germ of the idea is present, and in all the higher religions it is an important feature.
Like Cleisthenes of Sicyon and Periander of Corinth, he realized that one great source of strength to the nobles had been their presidency over the local cults.
That in early pre-Mosaic times parallel cults existed among the various Hebrew tribes is by no means improbable.