AUGUSTALIS, in antiquity, a name given by the Romans 1°. to those who led the first ranks of an army; 2°. to certain magistrates in cities; 3°. to all the officers of the Emperor’s palace. The governor or prefect of Egypt is particularly called Augustalis, or Praefectus Augustalis; as being first established by Augustus, after the defeat of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. He resided at Alexandria. Augustalis was also a priest or pontiff, invested with the direction and superintendency of the games performed in honor of Augustus. See GAME, PONTIFF, etc. The Augustales were instituted by Tiberius, immediately after Augustus’s death; as is observed by Tacitus, who assures us they were priests—Several cities had six of these Augustales; whence they were called, Seviri Augustales.
