Il ruolo e la funzione delle Augustae dai Giulio-Claudi ai Severi

Towards the end of the II century A.D., the documentary sources available to us attest to the valorization of the political role played by the Augustae - a role which, however, throughout the first two centuries of the empire ought not to be overrated. The characterization of the 'power' of the Augustae in the sources is actually very ambiguous. On the one hand, the Augusta could enjoy some visibility, influence and privilegia, also by way of a rich web of clientelar relationships. On the other, this was far from being the exercise of a proper public power, at least until the Severian age.