Augustalia
Sign in to savethumb|The Blacas Cameo (early 1st century AD), depicting Augustus wearing an [[aegis]] The Augustalia, also known as the Ludi Augustales ("Augustan Games"), was a festival celebrated between the 2nd and the 12th of October in honour of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. It was established in conjunction with an altar to Fortuna Redux to mark the return of Augustus from Asia Minor to Rome in 19 BC. The pontiffs and Vestals conducted sacrifices, and the date became a holiday (feria) on the official religious calendar of Rome.
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thumb|The Blacas Cameo (early 1st century AD), depicting Augustus wearing an [[aegis]] The Augustalia, also known as the Ludi Augustales ("Augustan Games"), was a festival celebrated between the 2nd and the 12th of October in honour of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. It was established in conjunction with an altar to Fortuna Redux to mark the return of Augustus from Asia Minor to Rome in 19 BC. The pontiffs and Vestals conducted sacrifices, and the date became a holiday (feria) on the official religious calendar of Rome.
The altar to Fortuna Redux was inaugurated on October 12, 19 BC, but dedicated on December 15. Until Augustus died in 14 AD, Fortuna Redux was the recipient of the day's religious honors, and the name Augustalia does not appear in sources before that time. During his lifetime, Augustus was honored with ludi Augustales, games (ludi) presented on the initiative of individual magistrates. Strictly speaking, the Augustalia was the anniversary sacrifice, though Augustalia can also refer to commemorations of Augustus on his birthday, September 23.