FLĀMEN

the name for any Roman priest who was devoted to the service of one particular god, and who received a distinguishing epithet from the deity to whom he ministered. The most dignified were those attached to Dijovis, Mars, and Quirinus, the Flamen Dialis , Flamen Martial is , and Flamen Quirinalis . They are said to have been established by Numa. The number was eventually increased to fifteen: the three original flamens were always chosen from among the patricians, and styled Majores ; the rest from the plebeians, with the epithet Minores . Among the minores, we read of the Flamen Floral is , the Flamen Car mental is , . The flamens were elected originally at the Comitia Curiata, but it is conjectured that subsequently to the pa ing of the Lex Domitia ( B.C. 104) they were chosen in the Comitia Tributa. After being nominated by the people, they were received ( capti ) and installed ( inaugurabantur ) by the pontifex maximus, to whose authority they were at all times subject. The office was understood to last for life; but a flamen might be compelled to resign ( flaminio abire ) for a breach of duty, or even on account of the occurrence of an ill-omened accident while discharging his functions. Their characteristic dre was the apex [ Apex ], the laena [ Laena ], and a laurel wreath. The most distinguished of all the flamens was the Dialis ; the lowest in rank the Pomonalis . The former enjoyed many peculiar honours. When a vacancy occurred, three persons of patrician descent, whose parents had been married according to the ceremonies of confarreatio , were nominated by the Comitia, one of whom was selected ( captus ), and consecrated ( inaugurabatur ) by the pontifex maximus. From that time forward he was emancipated from the control of his father, and became sui juris. He alone of all priests wore the albogalerus ; he had a right to a lictor , to the toga praetexta , the sella curulis , and to a seat in the senate in virtue of his office. If one in bonds took refuge in his house, his chains were immediately struck off. To counterbalance these high honours, the dial is was subjected to a multitude of restrictions. It was unlawful for him to be out of the city for a single night; and he was forbidden to sleep out of his own bed for three nights consecutively. He might not mount upon horseback, nor even touch a horse, nor look upon an army marshalled without the pomoerium, and hence was seldom elected to the consulship. The object of the above rules was manifestly to make him literally Jovi adsiduum sacerdotem ; to compel constant attention to the duties of the priesthood. Flaminica was the name given to the wife of the dial is. He was required to wed a virgin according to the ceremonies of confarreatio , which regulation also applied to the two other flamines majores; and he could not marry a second time. Hence, since her a istance was e ential in the performance of certain ordinances, a divorce was not permitted, and if she died, the dial is was obliged to resign. The municipal towns also had their flamens. Thus the celebrated affray between Milo and Clodius took place while the former was on his way to Lanuvium, of which he was then dictator, to declare the election of a flamen ( ad flaminem prodendum ).