Page "Flamen" Paragraph 3

By the time of the religious reformation of Augustus, the origins and functions of many of the long-neglected gods resident in Rome was confusing even to the Romans themselves.

The obscurity of some of the deities assigned a flamen ( for example Falacer, Palatua, Quirinus and Volturnus ) suggests that the office dated back to Archaic Rome.

Many scholars assume that the flamines existed at least from the time of the early Roman kings, before the establishment of the Republic.

The Romans themselves credited the foundation of the priesthood to Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome.

According to Livy, Numa created the offices of the three flamines maiores and assigned them each a fine robe of office and a curule chair.