In the Seventh Æneid the Poet gives in a List of the Princes, and General Officers who came into the Assistance of Turnus; Amongst the rest he tells you,
Quin & Marrubia venit de gente Sacerdos,
Archippi regis missu fortissimus Umbro.
This Priest he commends both for his Courage and his skill in Physick, Natural Magick, and Phlosophy. He understood the Virtue of Plants, and could lay Passions and Poysons asleep. His death was extreamly regretted by his Country, who made a Pompous and Solemn Mourning for him.
Te nemus Angitiæ, vitrea te Fucinus unda,
Te liquidi flevere lacus.Æneid. 7.[244]
The Potitij, and the Pinarij Mention'd Æneid 8.Lib. 1.[245] were as Livy observes, chosen out of the first Quality of the Country, and had the Priesthood hereditary to their Family. To go on, Æmonides, and Chloreus make a glittering Figure in the Feild, and are very remarkable for the Curiosity of their Armour, and Habit. Æmonides's Finery is passed over in general.
Totus collucens veste atque insignibus armis.Æneid. 10.[246]
But the Equipage of Chloreus is flourish'd out at Length, and as I remember admired by Macrobius as one of the Master peices of Virgil in Description. In short; He is all Gold, Purple, Scarlet, and Embroydery;Æneid. 11.[247] and as rich as Nature, Art, and Rhetorick can make him. To these I might add Rhamnes, Asylas, and Tolumnius, who were all Persons of Condition, and had Considerable Posts in the Army.Æneid. 9. 10. 11.[248]
It may be these last were not strictly Priests. Their Function was rather Prophetick. They interpreted the Resolutions of the Gods, by the voice of Birds, the Inspection of Sacrifices, and their Observations of Thunder. This made their Character counted Sacred, and their Relation to the Deity particular. And therefore the Romans ranged them in the Order of the Priests.Guther. de jure veter. pontif.[249]