To the ancient Greeks and Romans, the ultimate ambition was to be worshipped as a god.

Now, most men would deny that they had any such ambition. It was seen as hubristic.

But for the most ambitious, for those at the very top, many harbored this ambition in their heart.

And we know this in part because some, like Julius Caesar, were indeed worshipped as gods after their death.

But here in the 21st century, we know that we're beyond

such superstitions, right? Except if you go to Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States,

there's a long park. And at either end, you have two things. At one end, you have the capital

of the United States. And if you go into that capital and stand right at the center and look up,

you'll see a fresco called the Apotheosis of Washington.

George Washington was the first president of the United States.

And this fresco, this painting, depicts George Washington's Apotheosis.

And what does apotheosis mean?

Well, it means the culmination of something, the highest point of greatness of a thing.

But the word also has another meaning.

It comes from the Greek apotheun, meaning to make a god of. And it's very appropriate that

it's called that because Washington is sitting there as a god, judging the United States. It

perfectly resembles the kind of painting that you would find in a cathedral. The only difference

between the apotheosis of George Washington and something that you would find in a cathedral. The only difference between the apotheosis of George Washington

and something that you might find in a cathedral

is that Washington is in the place of God.

And then if you go to the other side of the mall, this giant park,

you will find something called the Lincoln Memorial.

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