FLAMEN, in Roman antiquity, the name of an order of priests, instituted by Romulus or Numa; authors not being agreed on this head.
They were originally only three, viz: the flamen dialis, flamen martialis, and flamen quiritinus. They were chosen by the people, and installed by the sovereign pontiff. Afterwards, their number was increased to fifteen; the three first of whom were senators, and called flamines maiores; the other twelve, taken from among the people, being denominated flamines minores.
The flamen dialis, or priest of Jupiter, was a considerable person at Rome; the flamen martialis, or priest of Mars, was the second in dignity; and the flamen quiritinalis, was the next to him.