Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

940 PONTIFEX. PONTIFEX.
possible to perform sacrifices on eachl side of the 375); for, as far as we know, the first attempt to
Tiber. (Varro, de hLinag. Lat. v. 83, ed. Miiller; deprive the college of its right of co optation, and
Dionys. ii. 73.) This statement is, however, con- to transfer the power of election to the people, was
tradicted by the tradition which ascribes the build- not made until the year B. C. 145, by the tribune
ing of the pons sublicius to Ancus Martius (Liv. i. C. Licinius Crassus; but it was frustrated by the
33), at a time when the pontiffs had long existed praetor C. Laelius. (Cic. de Am7s. 25, Brut. 21, de
and borne this name. Gbttling (Gesch. d. RIm. Nat. Deor. iii. 2.) In 104 B. C. the attempt was
Staatsv. p. 173) thinks that pontsifex is only another successfully repeated by the tribune Cn. Domitius
form for pomnpifeix, which would characterise the Ahenobarbus: and a law (Lex Domitia) was then
pontiffs only as the managers and conductors of passed, which transferred the right of electing the
public processions and solemnities. But it seems members of the great colleges of priests to the
fir more probable that the word is formed from people (probably in the comitia tributa); that is,
pons and itceere (in the signification of the Greek the people elected a candidate, who was then made
pES LE, to perform a sacrifice), and that consequently a member of the college by the co-optatio of the
it signifies the priests who offered sacrifices upon priests themselves, so that the co-optatio, although
the bridge. The ancient sacrifice to which the still necessary, became a merematter ofform. (Cic.
name thus alludes, is that of the Argeans on the do Leg. Agr. ii. 7, Epist. ad Br1t. i.,5; Vell.
sacred or sublician bridge, which is described by Pat. ii. 12; Sueton. Nero, 2.) The lex Domitia
Dionysius (i. 38; compare ARGEs). Greek writers, was repealed by Sulla in a lex Cornelia de Sacermoreover, sometimes translate the word pontiffs by dotiis (81 B. c.), which restored to the great priestly
yeFqvpo7roloz. colleges their full right of co-optatio. (Liv. Epit.
The Roman pontiffs formed the most illustrious 89; Pseudo-Ascon. its Divinat. p. 102, ed. Orelli;
among the great colleges of priests. Their insti- Dion Cass. xxxvii. 37.) In the year 63 B. c. the
tution, like that of all important matters of relil law of Sulla was abolished, and the Domitian law
gion, waVs ascribed to Numa. (Liv. i. 20; Dionys. was restored, but not in its full extent; for it was
ii. 73.) The number of pontiffs appointed by this now determined, that in case of a vacancy the
king was four (Liv. x. 6), and at their head was college itself should nominate two candidates, and
the pontifex maximus, who is generally not included the people elect one of them. This mode of prowhen the number of pontiffs is mentioned. Cicero ceeding is expressly mentioned in regard to the
(de Re Publ. ii. 14), however, includes the pontifex appointment of augurs, and was, no doubt, the
maximus when he says that Numa appointed five same in that of the pontiffs. (Cic. P/lip. ii. 2.)
pontiffs. Niebuhr (Hist. of Rome, i. p. 302, &c.; Julius Caesar did not alter this modified lex Domicompare iii. p. 410; Liv. x. 6; Cic. de Re Publ. tia, but M. Antonius again restored the right of
ii. 9) supposes with great probability, that the ori- co-optatio to the college. (Dion Cass. xliv. 53.)
ginal number of four pontiffs (not including the The college of pontiffs had the supreme superinpontifex maximus) had reference to the two earliest tendence of all matters of religion, and of things
tribes of the Romans, the Ramnes and Tities, so and persons connected with public as well as prithat each tribe was represented by two pontiffs. rate worship. A general outline of their rights
In the year B. c. 300, the Ogulnian law raised the and functions is given by Livy (i. 20) and Dionynumber of pontiffs to eight, or, including the pon- sius (ii. 73). This power is said to have been
tifex maximls, to nine, and four of them were to given to them by Numa; and he also entrusted to
be plebeians. (Liv. x. 6.) The pontifex maximus, their keeping the books containing the ritual orhowever, continued to be a patrician down to the dinances, together with the obligation to give invear a. c. 254, when Tib. Coruncanius was the first formation to any one who might consult them on
plebeian who was invested with this dignity. (Liv. matters of religion. They had to guard against
Epit. 18.) This number of pontiffs remained for any irregularity in the observance of religious rites
a long time unaltered, until in 81 B. c. the dictator that might arise from a neglect of the ancient
Sulla increased it to fifteen (Liv. Epit. 89), and customs, or from the introduction of foreign rites.
J. Caesar to sixteen. (Dion Cass. xlii. 51.) In They had not only to determine in what manner
both these changes the pontifex maximus is in- the heavenly gods should be worshipped, but also
cluded in the number. During the empire the the proper form of burials, and how the souls of the
number varied, though on the whole fifteen ap- departed (manes) were to be appeased; in like
plars to have been the regular number. manner what signs either in lightning or other
The mode of appointing the pontiffs was also. phenomena were to be received and attended to.
different at different times. It appears that after They had tche judicial decision in all matters of retheir institution by Numa, the college lhad the ligion, whether private persons, magistrates, or
right of co-optation, that is, if a member of the col- priests were concerned, and in cases where the exlege died (for all the pontiffs held their office for isting laws or customs were found defective or inlife), the members met and elected a successor, sufficient, they made new laws and regulations
who after his election was inaugurated by the (decreta pontlficznl') in which they always followed
augurs. (Dionys. ii. 22,'3.) This election was their own judginent as to what was consistent
sometimes called caprio. (Gellius, i. 12.) In the with the existina customs and uslages. (Gell. ii.
year 212 B. C. Livy (xxv. 5) speaks of the election 20, x. 15.) They watched over the conduct of
of a pontifex maximus in the comitia (probably all persons who had anything to do with the
the comitia tributa) as the ordinary mode of ap- sacrifices or the worship of the gods, that is, over
pointing this high-priest. But in relating the all the priests and their servants. The forms of
events of the year 181 B. c. he again states that worship and of sacrificing were determined by the
the appointment of the chief pontiff took place by pontiffs, and whoever refused to obey their injuncthe co-optation of the college. (Liv. xl. 42,) Iow tions was punished by them, for they were " rerum
these anomalies arose (unless Livy expresses hin- quae ad sacra et religiones pertinent, judices et
felf carelessly) is uncertain (see Gittling, 1. c. p. vindices." (Fest. s. v. lraximus l2lontifex; comnpare