The New Student's Reference Work/Pontifex

Pon′tifex, the title borne by the members of one of the great religious colleges among the ancient Romans, the other being the college of Augurs. Although it is customary to speak of the college of pontiffs as a priesthood, it was not such, strictly speaking; that is, the members were not charged with the worship of any particular divinity nor did they conduct sacrifices. The duties of the pontiffs embraced the regulation of all religious rites and ceremonies of the state — how the gods should be worshiped, how burials should be conducted, how the manes (departed spirits) of the head should be appeased. In matters of religion their authority was supreme; there was no appeal from their decisions; and they themselves were responsible neither to senate nor to people. Their president was termed pontifex maximus. Their number, including the pontifex maximus, was originally five, all of whom were taken from the patricians. In 300 B. C. the Ogulnian law raised the number to nine, four of whom were to be plebeians. The first plebeian, however, who attained the dignity was Tiberius Coruncanius in 254 B. C. Sulla in 81 B. C. increased the number to 15, and Julius Cæsar to 16, he himself filling the position. During the empire the emperors generally discharged the functions of the position, but after the establishment of Christianity the title was assumed by the bishops of Rome, and the term pontiff is now one of the designations of the pope. The original Latin means the greatest or chief bridge-builder.