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 quirinus. 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 majores; 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 quirinalis, was the next to him.