Pontifex Maximus

Alternate meanings: see Pontifex (disambiguation)

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In Ancient Rome, the Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the collegium of the Pontifices, the most august position in Roman religion, open only to a patrician. A distinctly religious office under the early Roman Republic, it gradually became politicized until, beginning with Augustus, it was subsumed into the Imperial office.

Related Topics:
Ancient Rome - Collegium - Pontifices - Roman religion - Patrician - Roman Republic - Augustus

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Today, Pontifex Maximus is one of the titles of the Roman Catholic Pope.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic - Pope

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