in antiquity, the name of a minister of sacrifice among the Romans.

The pontifices, not being able to attend all the sacrifices performed at Rome to so many gods as were adored by that people, appointed three ministers, whom they called epulones, because they conferred on them the care and management of the epulae feasts in the solemn games and festivals. To them belonged the ordering and serving the sacred banquet, offered on such occasions to Jupiter, &c. They wore a gown bordered with purple like the pontifices. Their number was at length augmented from three to seven, and afterwards by Caesar to ten. Their first establishment was in the year of Rome 558, under the consulship of L. Furius Purpureo, and M. Claudius Marcellus.