College of the Augustales, Roman religious structure in Ercolano, Italy.
The College of the Augustales is a rectangular building with two entrances and a central hall supported by four Tuscan columns. The interior space was designed for gatherings and ceremonial purposes.
The building served as headquarters for the emperor priests until the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD buried Herculaneum in volcanic ash and pumice. This catastrophe preserved the structure in a way that reveals details of how it functioned.
The Augustales were local priests who gathered here to honor the emperor through public ceremonies and rituals. This building shows how religious leadership roles were open to successful merchants and professionals, not just the wealthy elite.
The building can be accessed through the Herculaneum archaeological park, with entry points from Decumanus Street and Cardo III Street. Wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is uneven and fully exposed to the elements.
The remains of a building attendant were discovered in his sleeping quarters, where volcanic heat had preserved his brain tissue. This is the only known case of preserved brain matter found in ancient Herculaneum.
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