Septemviri epulonum
The Septemviri epulonum (more rarely: Septemviri epulones ; literally: " Seven men for public solemn meals at celebrations of the gods"), or Epulones for short , were a college of priests of the ancient Roman religion . They were the highest-ranking quorum ahead of the four great urban Roman priests quorums.
Compared with the other three great colleges, the history of the Epulons began very late. In 196 BC A college of initially three priests ( tresviri epulonum ) was branched off from the pontifices to relieve the burden . Over time, the number of members was initially increased to seven, later under Caesar - without changing the name again - to ten.
The main task of the Epulonen consisted in the organization of a cult meal for Jupiter , the Iovis epulum , on the occasion of two religious festivals, the Ludi Romani and the Ludi Plebei . Later they received other cultic tasks. After Augustus had changed the functions of the priesthoods, the Epulonen were also responsible for sacrificing acts of the Ara Pacis and the Ara numinis Augusti as well as for organizing various games.
In terms of rank, rights of honor and formulas of appointment, the Epulons were on an equal footing with the pontifices , augurs and quindecimviri . Legally, however, they probably always retained a certain dependence on the pontifical college.
literature
- Alfred Klotz : Septemviri epulonum. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume II A, 2, Stuttgart 1923, Sp. 1552 f.
- Georg Wissowa : Religion and cult of the Romans . Beck, Munich 1912, p. 518.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Cassius Dio 43, 51, 9. The name Decemviri epulonum is not documented in ancient sources.