Pontifex Maximus

With Rome, the Pontife S are in charge of the maintenance of the bridge crowned (Sublicius bridge) and to supervise the good observance of the religious practices. The pontiffs also deal with the temples not having clean Clergé. To the head of the pontifical College, the large Pontiff ( pontifex maximus ) carried the highest title of the Roman religion.

The load of pontiff was exerted with life, recruitment being done by co-optation. This function varied according to the times. In the majority of the cases, the large pontiff has of another badge only a simpulum ; however, sometimes a securis or a secespita is added to it, i.e. the instruments for the ritual sacrifice.

Republican period

It establishes the calendar of the days records (business days) and harmful (bank holidays), devotes the buildings, keeps the crowned books, it intervenes in the ritual ones and the private worships, it governs certain ceremony like the Argées, names the other priests: Flamines and Vestals. It also chaired the national worship of the Gods capitolins. Moreover, they hold the files of Rome: they consign the notable facts in Large Annals, like various things like the worships, the precedents as regards right. Large Annals are held secret for a long time until the large pontiff Mucius Scaevola makes them public in -123.

At the end of the Roman republic, in 63 av. J.C., the load of Large Pontiff becomes elective, by vote of the Comices tributes. Jules César became thus Grand Pontiff from -63 to -44. For this reason it reformed the calendar which one named Calendrier Julien. After its death, the triumvirs Lépide from -44 to -12, then Octave Auguste were successively Grand Pontiff.

Imperial period

In 12, following Auguste, the emperors are high under Large Pontiff, after the death of Lépide. This title is shortened TOKEN ENTRY amongst other things in their titulature and on the coins and it will be carried including by the first Christian emperors. This dignity grants the control of the official religious life to them. At the 1st century, the collation of the sovereign pontificate is still a constitutional act distinct and posterior with that of the other imperial prerogatives. This characteristic disappears then and the emperor receives in block, as of his advent, the whole of his capacities.

Of all the great dignities attached to the imperial function, the sovereign pontificate is the last who remained indivisible. In 161, Marc Aurèle and Lucius Verus cover on an equal footing the imperial capacity; exception is made for the sovereign pontificate, whose only Marc Aurèle carries the title and assumes the load. Septime Sévère makes in the same way with its two sons, Caracalla and Geta.

It is only in 238, with the advent of Balbin and Maxime Pupien, that the religious prerogative of pontifex maximus is also allotted to the two colleagues. That becomes the rule for the last centuries of the Empire

Three at the beginning, the pontiffs will be 15 pennies Sylla (law Cornelia, approximately 80 av. J. - C.). Jules César will change this number to 16 (law Julia, 46 av. J. - C.).

Under the Empire, as sovereign pontiff the emperor intervenes in the recruitment of the priests, with right of presentation for the colleges elected by the people (Omens, Pontifes, Quindécemvirs sacris faciundis , Féciaux). He also directly names a whole series of priests and governs the recruitment of the Vestales. He returns the monitoring of the foreign worships, the consultation of the Sibylline Livres and the organization of the secular Jeux.

Christian period

Constantin I {{er}}, which supported the Christians, and its even baptized successors was also Grand pontiff of the traditional Roman religion.

In 382, the emperor Gratien refused to carry this title, among his measurements against the old religions. After him, the title is not carried any more during centuries, until the pope Theodore I {{er}} takes again it in 642.

Today, the title Pontifex maximus is reserved for the Pape - also called sovereign pontiff ( Summus pontifex ) or Roman Pontife ( Pontifex romanus ). The reign of a pope is called pontificate .

See also: Pontiff

List partial of the Pontifices maximi

See too

  • Pontiff
  • employment in the Catholic church for the Pope

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