Flamen

Flamen, in the religion of ancient Rome, was a priest devoted to the service of some special deity. The most ancient and honoured, known as Majores, were those of Jupiter (Flamines Biales), Mars, and Quirinus; they are said to have been instituted by Numa, and were invariably patricians. The twelve other flamens (Minores) were chosen from among the plebeians. They were at first elected by the Comitia Curiata, but after 104 B.C. they were nominated by the people in the Comitia Tributa, and afterwards installed by the Pontifex Maximus. On his election a Flamen Dialis passed out of the patria potestas or control of his father, and he possessed other privileges, such as a seat in the senate, but his liberty was curtailed in many ways. For example, he might not mount a horse or spend a night outside the city.