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Types of Priests

Augures
Augures

An augur was a priest and official in the classical Roman world. His main role was the practice of augury: Interpreting the will of the gods by studying the flight of birds – whether they were flying in groups or alone, what noises they made as they flew, direction of flight, and what kind of birds they were.

Pontifices and the Pontifex Maximus
Pontifices and the Pontifex Maximus

The Pontifex Maximus or pontifex maximus (Latin, "greatest priest") was the chief high priest of the College of Pontiffs (Collegium Pontificum) in ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post.

Rex Sacrorum
Rex Sacrorum

Although in the historical era the pontifex maximus was the head of Roman state religion, Festus says that in the ranking of the highest Roman priests (ordo sacerdotum), the rex sacrorum was of highest prestige, followed by the flamines maiores (Flamen Dialis, Flamen Martialis, Flamen Quirinalis) and the pontifex maximus.

Triumviri (Septemviri) Epulones
Triumviri (Septemviri) Epulones

A new college of priests was created in 196 B.C. whose job was to superintend the ceremonial banquets. These new priests were given the honor given to the higher priests of wearing the toga praetexta. Originally, there were triumviri epulones (3 men in charge of the feasts), but their number was increased by Sulla to 7, and by Caesar to 10. Under the emperors, the number varied.

source: thoughtco.com

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