The Sacellum of the Augustales in Miseno
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The “Templum Augusti quod est Augustalium”, as we can read from an inscription once present on the epistyle of the plant, is located in a crucial point between the theatre in the north and some public buildings in the south. So it was a temple dedicated to Augustus, the cult of whom was entrusted to the Augustales.
It consists of three rooms with a rectangular plan which open on a columned courtyard. The real sacellum is made up of a central room with apse at the end and with outer altar to which it is possible to accede thanks to a marble flight of steps.
The tetrastyle pronaos consisted of columns which supported the epistyle and a gable pediment, today reconstructed in the Archaeological Museum of the Phlegraean Fields. Also the statues of Vespasian and Titus, of Domitian-Nerva and of other personages are today at the museum. At present it is half covered by water in consequence of the bradyseism which probably caused, already at the end of the II century A.D., its destruction.
The side rooms, partly drawn from the rock and partly realized in masonry, stretch on two floors with a barrel covering. Just like the Sacellum, they were probably enriched with paintings, stuccoes (still visible in some points) and with mosaic floors with white and black tesserae. Maria Rosaria PUGLIESE |
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The discovery of the Sacellum of the Augustales
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In 1967, between Punta Salparella and Punta Terone, in the strip of land on which there is also the characteristic little church dedicated to the martyr Sosso and, in ancient times, there were the principal public buildings of the military city of Miseno, it had been recovered, thanks to a stroke of luck, a plant of Imperial age. From an inscription which had been found there, “TEMPLUM AUGUSTI QUOD EST AUGUSTALIUM”, it was understood that it was a temple wanted as seat of the Augustales, destined to the cult of the emperors. The temple consisted of one central and two side rooms, surrounded by arcades on three sides; during the centuries it underwent various restorations and embellishments. The more important of these ones dates back to Antony age; in fact, in this period, shortly before the remaining tuffaceous seam collapsed because of a seismic event, they were made substantial modifications. In order to satisfy Cassia Victoria's will, in honour of her husband L. Lecanio Primitivo, imperial priest, it was moved forward, the marble prospect was remade and the pronaos was enlarged. During the work of archaeological excavation conducted by the lamented professor A. De Franciscis, they were recovered in situ the statues of two emperors in two side niches dug in the tuff, in proximity to the apse of the cell. They represented in their heroic bareness, deified, the emperors Vespasian and Titus. In the courtyard and in the arcade of the temple, once embellished with statues, they were recovered only their basements. Though devoid of the relative statues, these basements are important because they present dedications to divinities and emperors. During the campaign of excavation which ended in 1972, it was recovered the bronze group with equestrian statue attributed to the emperors Domitian-Nerva. In one of the two side rooms, where it had been found the paved basement of Esculapio which attested the plant as: Augustus' Temple and seat of the Augustales, they were found also two female statues. One represented the Abundance, while the other one, maybe, a woman of Augustus' house. Today it is possible to visit only the cell and the two side rooms of the temple; the courtyard, because of the phenomena of subsidence, is submerged by the water coming from a water-bearing stratum beneath.
From some time the building is occupied by a nice colony of fluttering geese, unique templars remained as guardians of the temple. Pliny the Elder, with regard to the geese and to the unsuccessful taking of Rome by the Gauls, loved to say: “Dogs bark, geese watch over”. |
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Open everyday from 9.00 am to one hour before the sunset. Address to the Association Misenum tel. 081 5233977 Free entrance. Entrance allowed to domestic animals, provided that they are safe for the security of the personnel, of the other visitors and of the archaeological structures in general (use of muzzle and leash). The guide service is available only on application. Click on GUIDE to book a guided visit or to ask for information about the conducted tour. It is possible to take pictures or to effect shots except if they are for commercial purposes. |
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Daily Itineraries: Itinerary A4 | |
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