Pontifex
A pontifex was a member of one of Rome's principal priestly colleges. The college dealt with religious law, the conduct of rites and the calendar, and advised on sacred matters affecting both families and the state. Pontifices did not serve one particular god. Their responsibilities intersected with those of the flamines and Vestal Virgins without replacing these priesthoods.
Roman tradition associated the college's origins with Numa Pompilius. Ancient explanations connected the name pontifex with a “bridge”, but its derivation remains debated. Plutarch mentions the sacred wooden bridge over the Tiber while also noting that it may have been built after Numa's reign. A literal “bridge-builder” therefore neither describes the priest's full role nor proves the office's origin.
In the Republic, the college preserved and interpreted religious rules. The Lex Ogulnia of 300 BCE opened the pontificate to plebeians; Tiberius Coruncanius became the first plebeian pontifex maximus in the mid-third century BCE. This widened the college's membership, rather than in itself causing a decline in its influence. The pontificate remained religiously and politically important in the late Republic and under the emperors.
Lararium of the House of the Vettii in Pompeii (VI.15.1), kitchen area: the household genius between Lares, with serpent and altar; AD 60-79.
Roman relief with a priest, Perusia, early first century BC; an image of a ritual participant with covered head.Supreme Pontiff
The pontifex maximus headed the college and held authority in matters of public cult. According to Plutarch, he supervised the correct performance of sacrifice and the Vestal priesthood. Roman accounts that traced the office to Numa belong to later tradition about the regal era, not to a verifiable list of its first holders.
The method of selecting the chief pontiff changed over time. Influential politicians, including Julius Caesar, held the office in the late Republic. Augustus received it in 12 BCE after Lepidus's death; it subsequently became a customary element of imperial titulature. Its use changed in late antiquity. The familiar story of a direct “transfer” of the title from Emperor Gratian to the Roman pope is not established by the sources and should not be presented as fact.
Statue of Augustus in the image of the great Pontiff. Rome,Pio-Clementino Museum. 1st century AD
Marcus Aurelius as the great Pontiff. 2nd century AD
Statue of Augustus in the image of the great Pontiff. 1st century ADReconstruction
A reconstruction should distinguish features of Roman ritual in general from attributes securely identified with this college. Images show officiants with their heads covered by a fold of the toga (capite velato), but this pose alone does not identify every figure as a pontifex. Clothing, footwear and ritual equipment should be chosen for a specific period and source; red stripes or one type of knife should not be imposed on all pontifices.
Related topics
Augur · Toga · Tunic · Roman religion · Roman calendar
Literature
Pontifex / / Small encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron: in 4 volumes-St. Petersburg,1907-1909. Pontifex / / "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities" by William Smith,London,1870,pp. 939-942. Smorchkov A.M. Collegium of Pontiffs / / Priestly colleges in Early Rome,Moscow,2001; Kavanagh B.J. Pontifices,Bridge-Making and Ribezzo Revisited // Glotta. 2000. Vol. 76. № 1–2 Bleicken J. Oberpontifex und Pontifikalkollegium: Eine Studie zur Römischen Sakralverfassung // Hermes. 1957. Bd 85. № 3 Wissowa G. Religion und Kultus der Römer. Münch.,1912 Religion in Roman Italy.pdf Roman Religion in Archaic and Republican Rome.pdf Religion and power in the Roman Republic Magistrates priests Morel temples. pdf
Statue of Augustus in the image of the great Pontiff. 1st century AD
Bronze statuette of Augustus in the image of the great Pontiff. Late 1st century BC
Statue of Augustus in the image of the great Pontiff. 1st century AD
Statue of Augustus in the image of the great Pontiff. 1st century AD
Bronze statuette of a Lar or participant in household cult holding a libation bowl; a portable image from the sphere of Roman domestic religion, 1st century AD.
Fresco from the lararium of the House of Julius Polybius in Pompeii, 1st century AD; a household shrine with Lares, genius, serpents and altar.
Lares, genius and serpents on a fresco from a Pompeian lararium, Insula VIII.2; Naples, National Archaeological Museum, inv. 8905, AD 69-79.
Coin with Gaius Julius Caesar in the image of the great Pontiff. 1st century BC
Scene on a second-century Roman bronze jug with a soldier and priest preparing to sacrifice a pig. Part of the superb Roman gallery at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle.Interested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions.
