College of Pontiffs Totally Explained

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The College of Pontiffs or Collegium Pontificum (collegium in Latin means a board or committee rather than an educational institution) was a body of the ancient Roman state whose members were the highest-ranking priests of the polytheistic state religion. The college consisted of the pontifex maximus, the Vestal Virgins, the Rex Sacrorum, and the flamines. The College of Pontiffs was one of the four major priestly colleges, the others being of the augurs, the priesthood of the fifteen, and the seven feasters. The title pontifex comes from the Latin for "bridge builder," a possible allusion to a very early role in placating the gods and spirits associated with the Tiber River, for instance. Also Varro sites this position as meaning "able to do".
   The pontifex maximus was the most important member of the college. Until 104 B.C., the pontifex maximus held the sole power in appointing members to the other priesthoods in the college.
   The flamines were priests in charge of the cults of 15 of the most important gods in the Roman religion. Each priest was responsible for his own god. There were 3 major flamines jupiters, mars and Quirinus. There were 12 minor flamines, Caramentalis, Cerialis, Falacer, Floralis, Furrinalis,Pulatualis, Pomonalis, Portunalis, Volcanalis, Volturnalis, and two other unknown.
   The Vestal Virgins were the only female members of the college. They were in charge of guarding Rome's sacred hearth, keeping the flame burning inside the Temple of Vesta. Around age 6 to 10, girls were chosen for this position and were obligated to perform the rites and obligations, including remaining chaste, for 30 years. The Rex Sacrorum held the place of the head of state. The position originated after the fall of the monarchy and was instituted to have a priestly replacement for a king during religious rites in order to appease the gods.

Membership

Membership in the various colleges of priests, including the College of Pontiffs, was usually an honor offered to members of politically powerful or wealthy families. Membership was for life, except for the Vestal Virgins whose term was 30 years. In the early Republic, only patricians could become priests. However, the “lex Ogulnia” in 300 B.C. opened up college to plebeians.
Until the 3rd century B.C., the college elected the pontifex maximus from their own number. Afterwards, the office was publicly elected, from the candidates of existing pontiffs, until the Emperors began to automatically assume the title, following Julius Caesar’s example. The pontifex maximus was a powerful political position to hold and the candidates for office were often very active political members of the college. Many, such as Julius Caesar, went on to hold consulships during their time as pontifex maximus.
Pontiffs were the ones who appointed new members to the college. This changed in 104 B.C. with the “lex domitia” which stipulated that an assembly of 17 tribes would choose new members. However, the college still controlled which candidates the assembly voted on.

Role in the Roman State

The College of Pontiffs wasn't a religious body as we'd associate the term today. Of the different positions within the College, only the Flamines were dedicated to the worship of a sole deity. Roman religiosity dictated that everything that happened was tied into some aspect of the divine. During the Regal Period of Roman history, the pontiffs were primarily concilia (advisers) of the kings, but after the expulsion of the last Roman King Lucius Tarquinius Superbus in 510 BC, the College of Pontiffs became religious advisers to the Roman Senate. As the most important of the four priestly colleges, the college of pontiffs’ duties involved advising the senate on issues pertaining to the gods, the supervision of the calendar and thus the supervision of ceremonies with their specific rituals, and the appeasement of the gods upon the appearance of prodigies.
   One of their most important duties was their guardianship of the libri pontificii, a chest that contained crucial documents and artifacts necessary to the functioning of Roman religion. Among these items were the acta, indigitamenta (a sacred text that served as a script for properly invoking the gods), ritualia, commentarii, fasti, and annales (yearly records of magistrates and important events). These items were under the sole possession of the college of pontiffs and only they were allowed to consult these items when necessary.
   The lex Acilia bestowed power on the college to manage the calendar. Thus, they determined the days which religious and political meetings could be held, when sacrifices could be offered, votes cast, and senatorial decisions brought forth.
   The College of Pontiffs came to occupy the Regia (the old palace of the kings) during the early Republican Period. They came to replace the religious authority that was once held by the king. A position, the Rex Sacrorum, was even created to replace the king for purposes of religious ceremonies.
   When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, after the decree of Theodosius I in 381, the Bishop of Rome became the de facto government of the city as the emperors had moved their administration to Constantinople. Around 440, Pope Leo I began using the title Pontifex Maximus to emphasize the civil authority of the Pope and the continuity of imperial power.

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