Rex Sacrorum
The Rex Sacrorum was a religious office that was established after the overthrow of the Roman kings. While the title Rex Sacrorum literally translates to “King of Sacred Things,” it was not a position of political power. Instead, it was a purely religious office, created to preserve the sacred traditions and rituals associated with the kingship.
To qualify for the role, a patrician had to be born from parents married through the confarreatio ritual, a traditional Roman marriage ceremony. His wife, the Regina Sacrorum, also had specific religious duties to perform.
The marriage of the Rex Sacrorum and Regina Sacrorum was considered a fundamental aspect of their priesthood. If either partner died, the surviving priest was required to resign. This emphasized the importance of the couple’s partnership in maintaining the sacred traditions associated with the office.
Although the Rex Sacrorum held a prestigious position, it was primarily a ceremonial one. While he ranked above the Pontifex Maximus in terms of tradition, the Pontifex Maximus held the actual power and authority within the College of Pontiffs.
He performed a variety of sacred duties, including:
- Monthly Sacrifices: He offered sacrifices on the Kalends of each month, ensuring the favor of the gods and maintaining the peace of the city.
- Festival Announcements: On the Nones of each month, he announced the upcoming festivals and celebrations.
- Sacrifices at the Comitium: He presided over sacrifices at the Comitium, a public meeting place in Rome, on specific dates, such as 24th March and 24th May.
In addition to these duties, the Rex Sacrorum also served as the high priest of Janus, the god of beginnings and endings. As a symbol of his religious authority, he wore a toga and carried a ceremonial axe. He also followed the tradition of sacrificing capite velato, with his head covered, a practice associated with archaic Roman religion.
Regina Sacrorum
As a high priestess, the Regina Sacrorum performed specific rituals that only she could carry out. One of her primary duties was to preside over the sacrifice of a sow or female lamb to Juno on the Kalends of each month.
Unlike the Vestals, who were exclusively female, the Regina Sacrorum and the Flaminica Dialis were complementary to their male partners. These priesthoods were gender-balanced, with shared duties and responsibilities.
When performing her rituals, the Regina Sacrorum wore a distinctive headdress called the arculum, made of pomegranate twigs tied with a white woolen thread. This headdress symbolized her sacred status and distinguished her from other women.
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