Gli Augustales a Rusellae. Una rilettura delle testimonianze architettoniche, scultoree ed epigrafiche

Abstract

The Augustales at Rusellae. A re-examination of the architectural, sculptural and epigraphic evidence
Following the excavations carried out at the end of the fifties of the twentieth century by the Soprintendenza Archeologica della Toscana and by a few Italian Universities, scholars have tried to interpret the structures rising in the area to the South of the Roman forum of Rusellae (GR): the so called Domus dei Mosaici, Tempietto and Aula Absidata/Augusteo/Domus degli Augustales/Vano Statue. In a few specific studies, these structures have been directly linked to the cultural activities of the Augustales, but this interpretation does not appear very convincing to the author of the present paper. The aim of this work is to face again this debated question on the three above-mentioned structures, which is relevant to different aspects (planimetric, functional and cultural). For this reason, the sculptural and epigraphic remains, found near them, have been examined and connected to the imperial cult also in the light of what we know about the activities of the Augustales and the architectonic characteristics (functional and symbolic) of the connected structures. The study ends analysing the use of the Domus dei Mosaici and raising new questions about the three structures here at issue.
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