Pontiff

The pontiff (Greek ἀρχιερεύς archiereus ) was a religious official ( inaccurately referred to as a priest) in the Roman Empire. The pontiffs were summarized in a body, the Collegium Pontificum. The Pontifikalkollegium was the one authority which was responsible for the performance of all ceremonies and sacrifices after patrius rite. You fell for all the tasks of regular state worship that were not otherwise specially ordered. The head of the college was the Pontifex Maximus.

Etymology and history

The etymology of the word pontifex is not finally resolved. The most widespread is the popular etymological derivation from the Latin pons ( "bridge" ) and facere ( "to make" ) with the interpretation as a " bridge builder". The first mention of this meaning is found in Varro. Dionysius of Halicarnassus agrees with Varro and mentioned that the pontiffs for the maintenance of the bridges were still in the year 7 BC jurisdiction over the Tiber, though they also pre ate the most important religious functions. An attempt was made, the problematic discrepancy between the etymological meaning of the word pontifex to explain as an engineer or a carpenter and the official function of the Office in various ways. Judith Hallett (1970 ) presented several Roman offices, the old titles were retained even after the introduction of the new Roman function. Theodor Mommsen (1905 ) conducted the legitimacy of the pontiffs directly from her work as a bridge builder from.

Hallett led continues to be a theory of an older meaning of the word pons, but for which no direct Roman sources exist. From a derivative of the Indo-European root results in a possible meaning of pons as "way", analogous to the word pànthah in Vedic Sanskrit. Thus it is conceivable that the word pons in Latin, the secondary meaning as "way" or has retained " path " of the bridge will also have been a part of. This is indicated by the fact that the word was pànthah in the religious or spiritual sense used as a synonym for the unknown and treacherous path. The word pons may therefore have been associated with a sense of magic and mystery, but not the form of an invocation of a higher power, but as an "independent mechanical force " with which tried to influence the nature of the pontiff. Similar roots in the occult and magic can be found in ancient Roman rituals like aquaelicium or argeorum sacra, the bridge on which the pontiffs led by the magical ceremony when a place was considered by overwhelming force.

Thus, the emergence of the pontifical office power in Rome is not to be sought in bridge construction, but in the primitive migration time prior to the first occupation of the Palatine Hill. The precursor of the collegium pontificum could have been a group of specialists who " paved the way " with magical secret rites and dangerous areas crossed. Consequently, for the pontifex very probable secondary importance are assumed to be " path Bahner " in direct sense as an authorized " bridge builder" on St. Tiber and as a mediator between men and gods.

A serious alternative to clarify the meaning of the word pontifex delivered Hubert Le Bourdelle (1976). Unlike other priests of the religio Romana the services of the pontifex not a single God were devoted, but were in universal competence a service to all the gods. According to Le Bourdelle leads to two conclusions: firstly, the word pontifex not older than the function of the Office be, the function would have to have evolved during the development of Rome and was part of the religious system which the rex Sacrorum and flamines - with exception of the flamen Dialis - contained, the element can be interpreted in Pontian - pontiff with the aid of lexical former works of the Latin language to another must. However, the latter are not present, and the dubious popular etymological explanation connects ponti - always with " the path" or " the bridge " to meet without the universality and totality of the pontiff - Office. However, this can be achieved by a return to a Umbrian root, the Pontic - originally contained a universal character for the loanword. Indirect evidence in favor of this theory in Roman literature: the derivative Pontificium is mentioned in the writings of Aulus Gellius, who combined it with delibero and statuo and the pontificate attributed to a sovereign decision power. Arnobius coupled the pontiff with the word potestas. Thus, the title pontifex appears in the light of both global authority to the judicial sense and a spiritual sovereign power over the Roman cults as well as a full responsibility for the ius sacrum.

Other suggestions are less noticed the derivation of pompa ( solemn elevator ) and the popular etymological corruption of a similar-sounding but etymologically unrelated Etruscan word for " priest ".

It should be noted that the emergence of the word pontifex is further back than all the ancient documents on this subject. Thus it is no accident that even the Romans of classical antiquity was the office of Pontifex known only contradictory traditions. This explains the lack of consistency of antique experts and historians in the documents about the origin of the office and the title.

History

The legend attributes the appeal of the pontiffs Numa Pompilius on. Indeed, the emergence of the pontiffs was probably a longer process, as a result at the end of the monarchy, the priesthood had separated from the kingdom. Besides the actual pontiffs were from the beginning a number of different priesthoods to the College:

• Rex Sacrorum ( "victim King " )
• Two of the three flamens maiores ( Flamen Martialis Flamen Quirinalis ) and the Flemish Dialis
• 12 flamens minores
• The six virgins Vestales ( " vestal virgins " )

The actual pontiffs were initially three priests ( with the Pontifex Maximus ). Over time, the number had to be adapted to the needs of the growing community. Thus, the number of members was first increased to 6 later on 9. Sulla increased the number to 15 and Caesar also added a 16th member.

In the year 196 BC, the College was relieved epulonum by the cleavage of the Septemviri. Already in the year 300 BC, the plebeians had secured with the Lex Ogulnia about half of the posts in the College. Under Augustus, the College finally learned once more drastic changes: In the year 29 BC it was the right decision given by the Senate, to appoint members also have the statutory number addition. In the following can be specified for the pontiffs no fixed number of members more. Even Augustus led a Promagister in the college of the represented him in the shops of the Pontifex Maximus. In addition, the flamens divorum, the priests who were responsible for the cult of the emperor were consecrated, affiliated to the College.

Admission of new members

Since the end of the monarchy, the complement of all the major colleges through co-optation was. One exception was the Rex Sacrorum that flamens and the Vestal Virgins, who were appointed by the Pontifex Maximus. The co-optation was a result of a vote among members. In the year 145 BC failed an attempt to replace the co-optation by the popular vote, but 103 BC, but the practice was changed. We now extended the method that was some time for the election of the Supreme Pontiff, from the members of all the major colleges. Henceforth, by lot 17 Tribe determines the appointed representative of the whole Roman people the new priest. Then the person elected was co-opted by the College. Sulla lifted Although this process again, but it was reintroduced 63 BC. In the year 14 AD, the election went over to the Senate. After the election, the cooptatio was carried out by an umpire from the College and the solemn inauguration.

Tasks

The task of the pontiffs was mainly in the monitoring of all religious rules. They were initially supposed to - according to much later tradition - literally as a bridge builder, who entertained the first Tiber bridge ( the pons sulicius ), also responsible for the contact with the river god Tiber, what its significance as an advisor on all legal - and religious - actions symbolizes. It is certain that they knew the mysterious world of the gods of the Romans, undervalued and therefore the people of all religious questions - could advise - just what was right. The advice was provided free of charge. Because of their position, the sacral pontifices dominated the rules for the traffic of Rome with the gods (ius sacrum ) as well as the traffic of the Romans to one another (ius ). They therefore laid down the assizes, knew the action formulas of the old Roman process and the formulas for the completion of transactions. In the opinion of the early Roman period, it was namely as in prayer and in legal matters on the use of the right words. The Prayer and legal formulas ( fasti ) were incantations by the former idea. The fasti were kept in the archives of the college and were secret. So the right things in pontifices had initially a monopoly, which they lost, however, as published fasti. Thus, administration of justice and law were secularized. The theft apparently happened around 300 BC; she is the writer of Gnaeus Flavius ​​attributed. According to him, it is also called ius Flavianum.

Roman ( Catholic ) Church

In the late 4th century AD, the now Christian emperors put the title of Pontifex Maximus because of its pagan connotations from, although still Anastasios I. 516 designated as pontiff in a letter to the bishop of Rome and thus underlined its claim in being able to intervene church Affairs ( Hormisd. Ep. 12). Around the year 600 was the title of Pontifex Maximus then finally on to the papacy. Sometimes even pontiff is used as a synonym for Pope today. As part of the official titulary of the Pope, the Supreme Pontiff name ( " highest pontiff " ) has survived to this day. Analogously, sometimes the bishops with Pontifex - called - in the more general sense of " bridge builder" between heaven and earth, or between God and man. This is especially true if they - as well as abbots or prelates infulierte - protrude as a pontiff pontifical.