According to legend, the first Pontifex Maximus was Numa Marcius, who was appointed by his friend, Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome. No other Pontifices Maximi are mentioned in surviving sources until the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally occurring in 509 BC. Once appointed, the Pontifex Maximus held his position for life; a new Pontifex Maximus was normally appointed following his death.
This list includes all of the Pontifices Maximi mentioned by historians and other ancient writers, down to the end of the Roman Republic. The list prior to the time of the First Punic War is presumably incomplete, as fewer than a dozen holders of the office are known from the first two-and-a-half centuries of the Republic. The last Pontifex Maximus of the Republican era was Lepidus, the triumvir. Upon his death, Augustus assumed the office, further consolidating his authority over the Roman state.
In the imperial era, it was customary for the emperor to serve as Pontifex Maximus. Although Constantine the Great reportedly converted to Christianity, and most of his successors were Christians, they continued to hold the office until the time of Gratian (375–383), who declined it,[1] instead assuming the title of Pontifex Inclytus, which was not associated with the former pagan state religion. The title of Pontifex Maximus thereafter fell into abeyance. After the sack of Constantinople and the end of the Eastern Roman Empire in the fifteenth century, the title was revived by the Popes, notwithstanding its pagan origins, and is now a part of the papacy's official titulature.
The Pontifex Maximus held his office for life, but the date of death is not known for every man who held the office, and the name of the Pontifex is not recorded for every period. Unless otherwise noted, dates and citations of primary sources are from T.R.S. Broughton's three-volume The Magistrates of the Roman Republic (American Philological Association, 1951, 1986).
141–132: Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio (d. 132), probably succeeded his father and elected in absentia;[18] first Pontifex to leave Italy (as compelled by the senate to escape a plot against his life), and the first to die outside Italy[citation needed]
13 BC–AD 14: Augustus, the first emperor, assumed the title of Pontifex Maximus upon the death of Lepidus. Thereafter, the office was held by the emperors until the late fourth century.
Bowersock, G. W. (1990). "The Pontificate of Augustus", in Kurt A. Raaflaub and Mark Toher (eds.): Between Republic and Empire: Interpretations of Augustus and his Principate. Berkeley: University of California Press, 380–394. ISBN0-520-08447-0.
External links
article Pontifex in Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities
January 13, 2023
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The pontifex maximus was the chief priest of the ancient Roman religion and head of the Collegium Pontificum College of Pontiffs Contents 1 Background 2 Pontifices maximi of the Roman Kingdom 3 Pontifices maximi of the Roman Republic 4 Notes 5 Further reading 6 External linksBackground EditAccording to legend the first Pontifex Maximus was Numa Marcius who was appointed by his friend Numa Pompilius the second King of Rome No other Pontifices Maximi are mentioned in surviving sources until the overthrow of the Roman monarchy traditionally occurring in 509 BC Once appointed the Pontifex Maximus held his position for life a new Pontifex Maximus was normally appointed following his death This list includes all of the Pontifices Maximi mentioned by historians and other ancient writers down to the end of the Roman Republic The list prior to the time of the First Punic War is presumably incomplete as fewer than a dozen holders of the office are known from the first two and a half centuries of the Republic The last Pontifex Maximus of the Republican era was Lepidus the triumvir Upon his death Augustus assumed the office further consolidating his authority over the Roman state In the imperial era it was customary for the emperor to serve as Pontifex Maximus Although Constantine the Great reportedly converted to Christianity and most of his successors were Christians they continued to hold the office until the time of Gratian 375 383 who declined it 1 instead assuming the title of Pontifex Inclytus which was not associated with the former pagan state religion The title of Pontifex Maximus thereafter fell into abeyance After the sack of Constantinople and the end of the Eastern Roman Empire in the fifteenth century the title was revived by the Popes notwithstanding its pagan origins and is now a part of the papacy s official titulature Pontifices maximi of the Roman Kingdom EditNuma Marcius The first Pontifex Maximus according to Livy Pontifices maximi of the Roman Republic EditThe Pontifex Maximus held his office for life but the date of death is not known for every man who held the office and the name of the Pontifex is not recorded for every period Unless otherwise noted dates and citations of primary sources are from T R S Broughton s three volume The Magistrates of the Roman Republic American Philological Association 1951 1986 509 BC Gaius Papirius 2 or Marcus Horatius Pulvillus 3 449 either Quintus Furius 4 or Marcus Papirius 5 431 Aulus Cornelius Cossus usually identified with the famous general of this era who was consul in 428 6 420 Spurius Minucius 7 390 Marcus Folius likely the M Folius Flaccinator who was consular tribune in 433 although Plutarch names him Fabius 8 332 Publius Cornelius Calussa 9 304 Cornelius Scipio Barbatus possibly the Publius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus who was consul in 328 or if his praenomen was Gnaeus the father of the consul of 298 10 ca 254 243 Tiberius Coruncanius first plebeian to become Pontifex Maximus and first Roman jurist and professor of law consul in 280 BC 11 ca 243 221 Lucius Caecilius Metellus d 221 credited with saving the Palladium when the Temple of Vesta was on fire removed from office or resigned around 237 12 221 213 Lucius Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus d 213 13 212 183 Publius Licinius Crassus Dives d 183 14 183 180 Gaius Servilius Geminus d 180 15 180 152 Marcus Aemilius Lepidus d 152 16 152 150 vacant 150 141 Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum d 141 17 141 132 Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio d 132 probably succeeded his father and elected in absentia 18 first Pontifex to leave Italy as compelled by the senate to escape a plot against his life and the first to die outside Italy citation needed 132 130 Publius Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus 19 killed in battle 131 BC Asia Minor first Pontifex to leave Italy by choice and the first to die in battle citation needed 130 late 114 Publius Mucius Scaevola 20 succeeding his brother and last Pontifex Maximus to publish the Annales Maximi citation needed by December 114 103 Lucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus with start date determined by his presiding as Pontifex Maximus over a Vestal trial 21 103 ca 89 Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus d 88 22 ca 89 82 Quintus Mucius Scaevola d 82 23 first Pontifex to be openly murdered in the Temple of Vesta with his body thrown into the Tiber citation needed 82 63 Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius d ca 63 BC 24 63 44 Julius Caesar 25 elected over two higher ranking candidates for the office Quintus Lutatius Catulus and Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus 26 44 13 Marcus Aemilius Lepidus died 13 BC 27 13 BC AD 14 Augustus the first emperor assumed the title of Pontifex Maximus upon the death of Lepidus Thereafter the office was held by the emperors until the late fourth century Notes Edit Catholic Encyclopedia Gratian Dionysius of Halicarnassus 3 36 4 T R S Broughton The Magistrates of the Roman Republic American Philological Association 1951 1986 vol 1 p 4 Broughton vol i pp 3 6 note 3 pp 4 Cicero Dom 139 fr 15 Consol Valerius Maximus 5 10 1 Seneca Cons ad Marc 13 1 places him in 508 BC Livy 3 54 5 Asconius 77C Broughton MRR1 p 49 Livy 4 27 1 Broughton MRR1 p 64 Plutarch On Putting One s Enemies to Use 6 see also Livy 4 44 11 12 Broughton MRR1 p 71 Livy 5 41 3 Plutarch Camillus 21 3 as Fabius Broughton MRR1 p 96 Jorg Rupke Fasti sacerdotum Franz Steiner 2005 p 1000 Livy 25 5 4 Broughton MRR1 p 142 Livy 9 46 6 Broughton MRR1 p 168 Broughton MRR1 pp 210 and 218 attested widely in works by Cicero and other sources Livy Periochae 19 Valerius Maximus 8 13 2 Broughton MRR1 pp 218 and 234 Livy 22 10 1 Broughton MRR1 p 234 Livy 25 5 2 4 and 39 46 1 Broughton MRR1 pp 271 381 Livy 39 46 1 and 40 42 6 and 11 12 Broughton MRR1 pp 381 390 Livy 40 42 6 and 11 12 Periochae 48 Broughton MRR1 p 390 Cicero De senectute 50 De natura deorum 3 5 De oratore 3 134 Broughton MRR1 pp 390 457 Broughton MRR1 pp 478 479 499 citing multiple testimonia Broughton MRR1 pp 499 503 Broughton MRR1 pp 503 532 Asconius 45 46C Broughton MRR1 pp 532 534 Broughton MRR1 pp 564 564 MRR2 1952 p 37 Broughton MRR2 pp 37 73 Broughton MRR2 pp 73 171 172 note 3 Broughton MRR2 pp 171 172 note 3 333 Velleius Paterculus 2 43 Plutarch Caesar 7 Suetonius Divus Julius 13 Broughton MRR2 p 333 Further reading EditBowersock G W 1990 The Pontificate of Augustus in Kurt A Raaflaub and Mark Toher eds Between Republic and Empire Interpretations of Augustus and his Principate Berkeley University of California Press 380 394 ISBN 0 520 08447 0 External links Editarticle Pontifex in Smith s Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of pontifices maximi amp oldid 1086080997, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
