Epulones
Encyclopedia
The epulones formed one of the four great religious
corporations (quattuor amplissima collegia
) of ancient Roman priests. The two most important colleges were the College of Pontiffs
and the augur
s; the fourth was the quindecimviri sacris faciundis. The epulones arranged feasts and public banquets at festivals and games (ludi
), duties that had originally belonged to the pontiffs.
Initially there were three epulones, but later their number was increased to seven; hence they were also known as the septemviri epulonum, "seven men of the epulones." Julius Caesar
temporarily expanded the college to ten, but after his death it was reduced again to seven. Their college was founded in 196 BC, long after reforms had opened the magistracies and most priesthoods to plebeians, who were thus eligible from the beginning. The necessity for such a college arose as the increasingly elaborate festivals required experts to oversee their organization.
The patera
was the sacred bowl used by the epulones. It was shallow with a raised center, so that when held in the palm, the thumb may be placed on the raised center without profaning the libation
as it is poured into the focus, or sacred fire. The patera was the special emblem of the epulones. The paten
used today by Roman Catholic priests, omits the raised center.
Collegium (ancient Rome)
In Ancient Rome, a collegium was any association with a legal personality. Such associations had various functions.-Functioning:...
corporations (quattuor amplissima collegia
Collegium (ancient Rome)
In Ancient Rome, a collegium was any association with a legal personality. Such associations had various functions.-Functioning:...
) of ancient Roman priests. The two most important colleges were the College of Pontiffs
College of Pontiffs
The College of Pontiffs or Collegium Pontificum was a body of the ancient Roman state whose members were the highest-ranking priests of the polytheistic state religion. The college consisted of the Pontifex Maximus, the Vestal Virgins, the Rex Sacrorum, and the flamines...
and the augur
Augur
The augur was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome and Etruria. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of birds: whether they are flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of...
s; the fourth was the quindecimviri sacris faciundis. The epulones arranged feasts and public banquets at festivals and games (ludi
Ludi
Ludi were public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people . Ludi were held in conjunction with, or sometimes as the major feature of, Roman religious festivals, and were also presented as part of the cult of state.The earliest ludi were horse races in the circus...
), duties that had originally belonged to the pontiffs.
Initially there were three epulones, but later their number was increased to seven; hence they were also known as the septemviri epulonum, "seven men of the epulones." Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
temporarily expanded the college to ten, but after his death it was reduced again to seven. Their college was founded in 196 BC, long after reforms had opened the magistracies and most priesthoods to plebeians, who were thus eligible from the beginning. The necessity for such a college arose as the increasingly elaborate festivals required experts to oversee their organization.
The patera
Patera
A patera was a broad, shallow dish used for drinking, primarily in a ritual context such as a libation. These paterae were often used in Rome....
was the sacred bowl used by the epulones. It was shallow with a raised center, so that when held in the palm, the thumb may be placed on the raised center without profaning the libation
Libation
A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid as an offering to a god or spirit or in memory of those who have died. It was common in many religions of antiquity and continues to be offered in various cultures today....
as it is poured into the focus, or sacred fire. The patera was the special emblem of the epulones. The paten
Paten
A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic bread which is to be consecrated. It is generally used during the service itself, while the reserved hosts are stored in the Tabernacle in a ciborium....
used today by Roman Catholic priests, omits the raised center.
External links
- Lacus Curtius website: Epulones from William Smith, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.
- Roman Magistrates
- religio Romana: Patera
- Epulones