Editing Lupercalia (section)

===Priesthoods===
{{further|Hirpi Sorani}}
[[File:Wolf head, 1-100 CE, bronze, Roman, Cleveland Museum of Art.JPG|thumb|''Lupercalia'' most likely derives from ''lupus'', "wolf", though both the etymology and its significance are obscure<ref name="Roman Republic 1981 p. 77" /> ''(bronze wolf's head, 1st century AD)'']]

The Lupercalia had its own [[Religion in ancient Rome#Public priesthoods and religious law|priesthood]], the ''Luperci'' ("brothers of the wolf"), whose institution and rites were attributed either to the Arcadian culture-hero [[Evander of Pallene|Evander]], or to Romulus and Remus, erstwhile shepherds who had each established a group of followers. The ''Luperci'' were young men (''iuvenes''), usually between the ages of 20 and 40. They formed two religious ''[[Collegium (ancient Rome)|collegia]]'' (associations) based on ancestry; the ''Quinctiliani'' (named after the ''[[gens]]'' [[Quinctia gens|Quinctia)]] and the ''Fabiani'' (named after the ''gens'' [[Fabia gens|Fabia]]). Each college was headed by a ''magister''.<ref name= Evidence>{{cite journal |last1= Vuković| first1= Krešimir |title=Roman Myth and Ritual: the Groups of Luperci and Epigraphic Evidence | journal= Epigraphica| volume=78| pages= 43–52| url= https://www.academia.edu/27195009}}</ref>

In 44 BC, a third college, the ''Juliani'', was instituted in honor of [[Julius Caesar]]; its first ''magister'' was [[Mark Antony]].<ref name= Evidence /> The college of ''Juliani'' disbanded or lapsed following the [[Assassination of Julius Caesar]], and was not re-established in the reforms of his successor, [[Augustus]]. In the Imperial era, membership of the two traditional ''collegia'' was opened to ''iuvenes'' of [[Equestrian (Roman)|equestrian]] status.