Titii
Encyclopedia
The Titii was a college (sodalitas) of Roman priests, which originally represented the Italic tribe of Sabines. The college was supposed to have been established either by Titus Tatius
to superintend and preserve the Titienses, one of the three original "tribes" (tribus) in the Regal period, or by Romulus
in honour of king Tatius, who after his death was worshipped as a god. During the Republic
the Titii are no longer mentioned, as the cults of all Italic tribes became gradually united into Roman religion.
The Titii were restored under the Empire
, but their functions were changed to conduct the worship of an emperor
, like those of Sodales Augustales
.
Titus Tatius
The traditions of ancient Rome held that Titus Tatius was the Sabine king of Cures, who, after the rape of the Sabine women, attacked Rome and captured the Capitol with the treachery of Tarpeia. The Sabine women, however, convinced Tatius and the Roman king, Romulus, to reconcile and subsequently...
to superintend and preserve the Titienses, one of the three original "tribes" (tribus) in the Regal period, or by Romulus
Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus are Rome's twin founders in its traditional foundation myth, although the former is sometimes said to be the sole founder...
in honour of king Tatius, who after his death was worshipped as a god. During the Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
the Titii are no longer mentioned, as the cults of all Italic tribes became gradually united into Roman religion.
The Titii were restored under the Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, but their functions were changed to conduct the worship of an emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
, like those of Sodales Augustales
Sodales Augustales
The Sodales Augustales or Sacerdotes Augustales, or simply Augustales, were an order of Roman priests instituted by Tiberius to attend to the maintenance of the cult of Augustus and the Iulii....
.