How did you become a priest in ancient rome?

Answer 1

You merely had to be appointed a priest to be a priest. The priesthood in ancient Rome was not the same as our present day priesthood. All it generally entailed was offering a sacrifice and any male Roman could do this. Being a pried was usually an honorific position with minimal duties.

Originally it was only the patricians who could be priests. Later, plebeians were given access to the priesthoods. Originally the priesthoods were extremely important as the very early Roman state was based on religion. The priesthoods were key to the patricians having superior status. As the state became more and more secular, this importance faded.

Answer 2

There were only two ways you could become a priest. Either your mother or father was a priest or you were made a priest by a dying priest.