Augustales

The "Collegio degli Augustali" (Shrines of the Augustales) constituted a sort of religious brotherhood in charge of the cult of Augustus, which spread in the eastern provinces after the death of the emperor (14 AD). The Augustales were in charge of the observance of the ritual and of the celebrations of the birth of Augustus and of his exploits, of the organization of the games and of all public events related to the celebration of the emperor. At the head of this religious order there was the "magister", a guide who had functions of coordination and control. The recruitment of adepts generally took place among "liberti" (freedmen) of more affluent conditions, dedicated to trade and craft activities, on the basis of the loyalty shown to the emperor. The main function of this college, in fact, was to create consensus and to promote the politics of Rome and the figure of its emperor. On the other hand, admission to the order of the Augustales and active participation in the ceremonies offered the freedmen an opportunity for individual and class affirmation that their civil status as ex-slaves would not otherwise have allowed.