Flamens

Flamens were priests in ancient Rome devoted each to some special deity. There were fifteen in all. The chief of these (Flamines Majores) were the flamen of Jupiter (Flamen Dialis), of Mars (Martialis), and of Quirinus (Quirinalis), who were always patricians; the remaining twelve (Flamines Minores) were chosen from the plebeians. The flamens were elected at first by the Comitia Curiata, but afterwards by the Comitia Tributa, and were installed into their office by the supreme dignitary of the Roman official religion, the pontifex maximus. The flamen of Jupiter was a privileged person; he was not required to take an oath, was attended by a lictor, his house was an asylum, and he had a seat in the senate. But all this was attended by numerous restrictions: he might not have a knot on any part of his attire, nor touch flour, or leaven, or leavened bread; he might not touch or name a dog, or mount a horse, or be a night out of the city, &c. His wife, called Flaminica, was subjected to similar restrictions, and when she died the flamen was obliged to resign. The majority of Roman writers attribute the institution of flamens to Numa.