FLAMEN, in Roman Antiquity, the name of any priest consecrated to the service of some particular deity. Of the flamen the highest in point of rank were the Flamen Dialis, Flamen Martialis, and Flamen Quirinalis, who were
always selected from among the patricians. When the number of flamen was raised from three to fifteen, those already mentioned were entitled maiores, in contradistinction to the other twelve, who were called minores, and were chosen from the plebs. The flamen were held to be elected for life, but they might be compelled to resign office for neglect of duty, or on the occurrence of some ill-omened event during the performance of its functions. The official dress of the flamen was the opex or cap, surmounted with a piece of pointed olive-wood, round the base of which a lock of wool was twisted; the lana or mantle; and a laurel wreath.
The most honourable of all these priests was the Flamen Dialis, who, in virtue of his office, was entitled to a lictor, to a seat in the senate, to the toga praetexta, and to a curule chair. If a person in fetters took refuge in his house he was immediately loosed from his bonds; and if a criminal on his way to the scene of his punishment met him and threw himself at his feet he was respite for that day. To counterbalance these privileges, numerous restrictions were laid upon the Flamen Dialis. He was not allowed to leave the city for a single night; to ride or even touch a horse, a restriction which incapacitated him for the consulship; to swear an oath; to wear a ring, &c. The wife of the Dialis (who was not allowed to re-marry in the event of her death) was called Flaminica, and was obliged to assist her husband at the sacrifices and other religious duties which he performed. Some of the municipal towns in Italy had flamen as well as Rome. When it became customary to deify the emperors, flamen were appointed in all the provincial towns to superintend their worship.