Flamen

Part of a series on the
Priesthoods of ancient Rome
Flamen (AD 250–260)
Major colleges
Pontifices Augures Vestales Flamines Septemviri epulonum Quindecimviri sacris faciundis
Other colleges or sodalities
Fetiales Fratres Arvales Salii Titii Luperci Sodales Augustales
Priests
Pontifex maximus Rex Sacrorum Flamen Dialis Flamen Martialis Flamen Quirinalis Rex Nemorensis Curio maximus
Priestesses
Virgo Vestalis Maxima Flaminica Dialis Regina sacrorum
Related topics
Religion in ancient Rome Imperial cult Gallo-Roman religion Glossary of ancient Roman religion
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A flamen (plural flamines)^[1] was a priest of the ancient Roman religion who was assigned to one of fifteen deities with official cults during the Roman Republic. The most important of these were the three flamines maiores (or "major priests"), who served the important Roman gods Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus. The remaining twelve were the flamines minores ("lesser priests"). Two of the minores served deities whose names are now unknown; among the others are deities about whom little is known other than the name. During the Imperial era, the cult of a deified emperor (divus) also had a flamen.

The fifteen Republican flamens were members of the Pontifical College, who administered state-sponsored religion. When the office of flamen was vacant, a pontifex could serve as a temporary replacement, although only the pontifex maximus is known to have substituted for the Flamen Dialis, one of the flamines maiores.