Revision as of 19:10, 8 October 2008

Ancient Roman female priesthood; mythically going back to the time of Numa. In the republic, the major 3 flaminates were filled by a flaminica married by confarreatio to a flamen; if the flaminica died, the Flamen Dialis, Quirinalis and Martialis had to resign and the same if the flamen died.

During the Imperial era new flaminates were created. Agrippina Minor was flaminica to Divus Claudius. There were flaminicae to the imperial family and in the provinces to the colony, municipality and province as well. These flaminicae did not have to be married to a flamen and in the majority of cases were individual priesthoods. There is ample epigraphy witnessing the provincial flaminicae.

Epigraphy

CIL II 114

CIL II 32

CIL II 5, 624

References

Schultz, "Women's Religious Activity During the Republic"

Takacs, "Vestal Virgins, Sibyls and Matrons"

Hemelrijk," The Impact of Imperial Rome on religions, ritual and religious life in the Roman empire", Brill 2006