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Augustus as pontifex maximus (Via Labicana Augustus) <-The pontifex maximus (Latin for "supreme pontiff" [1] [2] [3]) was the chief high priest of the College of Pontiffs (Collegium Pontificum) in ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first held ...
The title of Pontifex Maximus was a title of the Roman emperor since the reign of Caesar Augustus, being abdicated by Gratian (375–383). [36] [37] [38] The Encyclopædia Britannica, without citing source, attributes Pope Leo I (r. 440–461) to the use of the title Pontifex Maximus. [39]
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 ...
Bishop of Rome Pontifex maximus Pope Catholic Pope Francis in 2021 Emblem of the Holy See Incumbent: Francis since 13 March 2013 Style His Holiness Location Ecclesiastical province Ecclesiastical Province of Rome Residence Apostolic Palace (official papal residence) Domus Sanctae Marthae (current and preferred residence of Francis) Headquarters Apostolic Palace, Vatican City Information First ...
The pontifex maximus was the most important member of the college. Until 104 BC, the pontifex maximus held the sole power in appointing members to the other priesthoods in the college. The flamens were priests in charge of fifteen official cults of Roman religion, each assigned to a particular god.
A pontiff (from Latin pontifex) was, in Roman antiquity, a member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs. [1] [2] The term pontiff was later applied to any high or chief priest and, in Roman Catholic ecclesiastical usage, to bishops, especially the Pope, who is sometimes referred to as the Roman Pontiff or the Supreme Pontiff.
The office of pontifex maximus eventually became a de facto consular office. [199] When the consul Lepidus died, his office as pontifex maximus passed to Augustus, who took priestly control over the State oracles (including the Sibylline books), and used his powers as censor to suppress unapproved oracles. [200]
Emperors from Gratian to Marcian styled themselves as pontifex inclytus, "honorable pontiff". The title of pontifex maximus was not adopted by the bishops of Rome until the Renaissance. [41] [42] In September 380, the augusti Gratian and Theodosius met, returning the Roman diocese of Dacia to Gratian's control and that of Macedonia to ...