LUPERCI

The Roman priests of Pan, and most ancient religious order in the state, having been instituted, according to tradition, by Evander, king of Pallantium, a town that occupied the Palatine Hill before Rome was built. There were three companies of them; viz. the Fabiani, Quin til i an i, and Julii — the last of whom were founded in honour of Julius Caesar. For the derivation of the word see Lupercalia. [s. 701]