Sodales Augustales

Priesthoods of
ancient Rome

Flamen (250-260 AD)
Major colleges

Pontifices · Augures ·
Vestales · Flamines ·
Septemviri epulonum ·
Quindecimviri sacris faciundis
Other colleges
or sodalities

Fetiales · Fratres Arvales ·
Salii · Titii · Luperci ·
Sodales Augustales
Priests

Pontifex Maximus · Rex Sacrorum ·
Flamen Dialis · Flamen Martialis ·
Flamen Quirinalis ·
Rex Nemorensis · Curio maximus
Priestesses

Virgo Vestalis Maxima ·
Flaminica Dialis · Regina sacrorum
Related topics

Religion in ancient Rome
Imperial cult
Glossary of ancient Roman religion
Gallo-Roman religion

The Sodales Augustales or Sacerdotes Augustales,[1] or simply Augustales,[2] were an order (sodalitas) of Roman priests instituted by Tiberius to attend to the maintenance of the cult of Augustus and the Iulii.

The sodales were chosen by lot among the principal persons of Rome, and were twenty one in number, to which were added Tiberius, Drusus, Claudius and Germanicus, as members of the imperial family.[3] Women might be appointed priestesses of Augustus, a practice probably originating in the appointment of Livia by a decree of the Senate as priestess to her deceased husband.[4] A flamen could also be a member of the Augustales.[5]

Among the ruins at Herculaneum is a collegial shrine with elaborate wall paintings identified as that maintained by the local Augustales. Several cities had six Augustales (Seviri Augustales).

See also

References

  1. ^ Tacit. Ann. II 83
  2. ^ Tacit. Hist. II. 95; CIL 10.1624; ILS 156
  3. ^ Tacit, I. 54
  4. ^ Dio. IVI. 46
  5. ^ Orelli, Inscrip. 2366, 2368