In the Regal era, a rex sacrorum (king of the sacred rites) supervised regal and state rites in conjunction with the king (rex) or in his absence, and announced the public festivals. He had little or no civil authority. With the abolition of monarchy, the collegial power and influence of the Republican pontifices increased. By the late Republican era, the flamines were supervised by the pontifical collegia. The rex sacrorum had become a relatively obscure priesthood with an entirely symbolic title: his religious duties still included the daily, ritual announcement of festivals and priestly duties within two or three of the latter but his most important priestly role – the supervision of the Vestals and their rites – fell to the more politically powerful and influential pontifex maximus. COUNT 5
QSN1 Who supervised sacred rites during the era of kings? ANS1 rex sacrorum QSN2 What type of authority did the rex sacrorum lack? ANS2 civil QSN3 What group's power increased after the rise of the Roman Republic? ANS3 Republican pontifices QSN4 What individual became more powerful during the late Republic? ANS4 pontifex maximus QSN5 By the late Republic, what position had become largely symbolic? ANS5 rex sacrorum