Classical civilizations created to honor wealth and powerful individuals

Classical civilizations created "monuments" to honor wealth and powerful individuals, since these monuments were intended both to inspire the citizens and to intimidate foreign nations.

Indeed in classical civilizations, wealthy and powerful individuals were  revered and sometimes even exalted to the position of a diety. The reason why this happened and was happening was that wealth was spread much more unequally than it is today (despite what you might think) and because of this, it was good and smart to have powerful and wealthy individuals on your side :)