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Definition: flamen from The Columbia Encyclopedia

(flā'mĕn), in Roman religion, one of 15 priests, each concerned with the cult of a particular deity. The most honored were those dedicated to Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus.


Flamines

From The Encyclopedia of Ancient History
Roman priests associated with the worship of individual deities – unlike other Roman priesthoods. Ancient grammarians derived their name from a white wool band that they wore around their characteristic apex, a hat topped with an olive-twig sticking up in the middle ( see Cult Clothing, Roman ). The special clothing of the flamines further included a woolen cloak, the laena , worn above the toga. The three major flamines were always patricians and not elected but chosen by the pontifices. The three gods they served were Jupiter ( flamen Dialis ), Mars ( flamen Martialis ), and Quirinus ( flamen Quirinalis ), a triad of gods Georges Dumézil once paralleled to the traditional Indo-European spheres of law, war, and agricultural production (Dumézil 1935 ). The Roman tradition also preserved twelve as the number of the other, minor flamines , but we only have the names of ten divinities to which they were linked: Carmenta, Ceres, Falacer, Flora, Furrina, Palatua, Pomona, Portunus, Vulcan, …
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Full text Article flamens

From Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome
One of the most influential groups of priests in Rome. The flamens (or flamines, priests) were given the task of honoring the 15 major and minor deities of the Roman state cult. Numbering 15 also, each of the flamens was assigned his god. It was the responsibility of the priest to honor that…
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Full text Article flamen

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
One of 15 sacrificial priests in ancient Rome, appointed to offer daily sacrifice to particular gods in the state pantheon. The office was held for life, but was terminated by the death of the flamen's wife (who assisted him at ceremonies), through neglect of duty, or if an evil omen occurred during…
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Full text Article flamen

From The American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language
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Full text Article flamen

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
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Full text Article flamen

From The Chambers Dictionary
| 19 words
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Full text Article flamen

From Collins English Dictionary
| 37 words
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Full text Article arch-flamen

From The Chambers Dictionary
| 12 words
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Full text Article flamen

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
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Full text Article flamen

From Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary
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Full text Article Jupiter

From Encyclopedia of Ancient Rome
Supreme god of the Roman pantheon. Jupiter protected Rome and ruled heaven as the father of the gods. His introduction to Rome was traditionally attributed to the Etruscans, who gave the Romans Jupiter Optimus Maximus (the Best and Greatest). They also built the first temple of his cult, dominating…
| 405 words
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