The seat of Roman worship in the oldest times was the Regia in the Via Sacra, near the Forum.  This was the house of the chief pontiff, and here the sacrifices were performed[290] by the Rex Sacrorum.  Near by was the temple of Vesta.  The Palatine Hill was regarded as the home of the Latin gods, while the Quirinal was that of the Sabine deities.  But the Penates of Rome remained at Lavinium, the old metropolis of the Latin Confederation, and mother of the later city.  Every one of the highest officers of Rome was obliged to go and sacrifice to the ancient gods, at this mother city of Lavinium, before entering on his office.

The old worship of Rome was free from idolatry.  Jupiter, Juno, Janus, Ops, Vesta, were not represented by idols.  This feature was subsequently imported by means of Hellenic influences coming through Cuma and other cities of Magna Graecia.  By the same channels came the Sibylline books.  There were ten Sibyls,—­the Persian, Libyan, Delphian, Cumaean, Erythraean, Samian, Amalthaean, Hellespontine, Phrygian, and Tiburtine.  The Sibylline books authorized or commanded the worship of various Greek gods; they were intrusted to the Decemviri.

Roman worship was at first administered by certain patrician families, and this was continued till B.C. 300, when plebeians were allowed to enter the sacred colleges.  A plebeian became Pontifex Maximus, for the first time, B.C. 253.

The pontiffs (Pontifices) derived their name (bridge-builders) from a bridge over the Tiber, which it was their duty to build and repair in order to sacrifice on either bank.  They possessed the supreme authority in all matters of worship, and decided questions concerning marriage, inheritance, public games.

The Flamens were the priests of particular deities.  The office was for life, and there were fifteen Flamens in all.  The Flamen Dialis, or priest of Jupiter, had a life burdened with etiquette.  He must not take an oath, ride, have anything tied with knots on his person, see armed men, look at a prisoner, see any one at work on a Festa, touch a goat, or dog, or raw flesh, or yeast.  He must not bathe in the open air, pass a night outside the city, and he could only resign his office on the death of his wife.  This office is Pelasgic, and very ancient.

The Salii were from early times priests of Mars, who danced in armor, and sang old hymns.  The Luperci were another body of priests, also of very ancient origin.  Other colleges of priests were the Epulones, Curiones, Tities.

The Vestal virgins were highly honored and very sacred.  Their work was to tend the fire of Vesta, and prevent the evil omen of its extinction.  They were appointed by the Pontifex Maximus.  They were selected when very young, and could resign their office after thirty years of service.  They had a large revenue, enjoyed the highest honors, and to strike them was a capital offence.  If a criminal about to be executed met