CLASSICS 2K03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Flamen Dialis, Vestal Virgin, Divi Filius
2 Feb 2016
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The state was very involved in many aspects of the religion, such as the choosing of priests, mandating augury and the seeking of omens, maintaining sacred spaces, etc. There was no common religious text or concern with personal beliefs, what was important was that you participated in the public aspect of the religion and performed the right actions. Did not require any special knowledge or training. Elected positions: considerable competition among elites for the top spots, rich, upper class men were the ones who were generally elected to priesthoods. Caesar spent a lot of money to get elected as pontifex maximus. Pontifex = bridge-maker (not clear where it came from, but possibly something along the lines of building a bridge between the gods and men) 15 of them, each for a different god. Flamen dialis (jupiter) was the most important.
