Hindu texts "Śruti" refers to the body of most authoritative, ancient religious texts, believed to be eternal knowledge authored neither by human nor divine agent but transmitted by sages ("rishis"). These comprise the central canon of Hinduism. It includes the four Vedas including its four types of embedded texts - the Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the early Upanishads. Of the "Shrutis" (Vedic corpus), the Upanishads alone are widely influential among Hindus, considered scriptures par excellence of Hinduism, and their central ideas have continued to influence its thoughts and traditions. The "Smriti" texts are a specific body of Hindu texts attributed
Glossary of ancient Roman religion Each flamen served as the high priest to one of the official deities of Roman religion, and led the rituals relating to that deity. The "flamines" were regarded as the most ancient among the "sacerdotes", as many of them were assigned to deities who dated back to the prehistory of Latium and whose significance had already become obscure by classical times. The archaic nature of the flamens is indicated by their presence among Latin tribes. They officiated at ceremonies with their head covered by a "velum" and always wore a "filamen", thread, in contrast to public rituals conducted by Greek