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MARCH 6th: PONTIFEX MAXIMUS
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<p>[QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 6600531, member: 99554"]The <b>Pontifex Maximus</b> (which literally means "Greatest Pontiff") was the high priest of the Ancient Roman College of Pontiffs. Many believe that PONTIFEX derives from <i>pontem facere</i> referring to the <i>Pons Sublictus</i>, the earliest bridge over the Tiber, built entirely of wood and carefully maintained by the Pontiffs. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post. He did not serve for a fixed period but for life, and he remained, officially, a citizen. The main task of the pontifices was to maintain the pax deorum, the 'peace with the gods'. To obtain this goal, they gave advise to the magistrates, interpreted the omens, controlled the calendar and oversaw funerals. Julius Caesar was elected <b>Pontifex Maximus</b> in 63 BC and kept the office until he die. After his death, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus became <b>Pontifex Maximus</b> (44-12 BC); when he died, the emperor Augustus became responsible for the state cult; this event happened <b><span style="color: #ff0000">March 6th</span></b> 12 BC.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1266214[/ATTACH]</p><p>Augustus as PONTIFEX MAXIMUS</p><p><br /></p><p>The emperors of Rome held the title of <b>Pontifex Maximus</b> until December 17 384 AD, when Gratian ceded the title to Pope Siricius. Because the pontifex maximus was not a real magistrate, he was not allowed to wear the toga with the purple border. However, he could be recognized by the iron knife (secespita). On coinage, almost all Emperors used the complete title or its abbreviations except Geta, Pertinax and maybe others I forgot ?</p><p>PM</p><p>P MAX</p><p>PON M</p><p>PON MAX</p><p>PONT MAX</p><p>PONTIF MAX</p><p>PONT MAXIM</p><p>PONTIF MAXIM</p><p><br /></p><p>Now here's the challenge: how many different Emperors can we found in our collections with the title or one of its diminutive? <b>Please show me your PONTIFEX MAXIMUS!</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>I'll start with:</p><p>Augustus <b>PONT MAX</b></p><p><b>[ATTACH=full]1266217[/ATTACH] </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Nerva <b>PM</b></p><p><b>[ATTACH=full]1266218[/ATTACH] </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Elagabalus <b>PM</b></p><p><b>[ATTACH=full]1266215[/ATTACH] </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>Severus Alexander <b>PM</b></p><p><b>[ATTACH=full]1266216[/ATTACH] </b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 6600531, member: 99554"]The [B]Pontifex Maximus[/B] (which literally means "Greatest Pontiff") was the high priest of the Ancient Roman College of Pontiffs. Many believe that PONTIFEX derives from [I]pontem facere[/I] referring to the [I]Pons Sublictus[/I], the earliest bridge over the Tiber, built entirely of wood and carefully maintained by the Pontiffs. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post. He did not serve for a fixed period but for life, and he remained, officially, a citizen. The main task of the pontifices was to maintain the pax deorum, the 'peace with the gods'. To obtain this goal, they gave advise to the magistrates, interpreted the omens, controlled the calendar and oversaw funerals. Julius Caesar was elected [B]Pontifex Maximus[/B] in 63 BC and kept the office until he die. After his death, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus became [B]Pontifex Maximus[/B] (44-12 BC); when he died, the emperor Augustus became responsible for the state cult; this event happened [B][COLOR=#ff0000]March 6th[/COLOR][/B] 12 BC. [ATTACH=full]1266214[/ATTACH] Augustus as PONTIFEX MAXIMUS The emperors of Rome held the title of [B]Pontifex Maximus[/B] until December 17 384 AD, when Gratian ceded the title to Pope Siricius. Because the pontifex maximus was not a real magistrate, he was not allowed to wear the toga with the purple border. However, he could be recognized by the iron knife (secespita). On coinage, almost all Emperors used the complete title or its abbreviations except Geta, Pertinax and maybe others I forgot ? PM P MAX PON M PON MAX PONT MAX PONTIF MAX PONT MAXIM PONTIF MAXIM Now here's the challenge: how many different Emperors can we found in our collections with the title or one of its diminutive? [B]Please show me your PONTIFEX MAXIMUS! [/B] I'll start with: Augustus [B]PONT MAX [ATTACH=full]1266217[/ATTACH] [/B] Nerva [B]PM [ATTACH=full]1266218[/ATTACH] [/B] Elagabalus [B]PM [ATTACH=full]1266215[/ATTACH] [/B] Severus Alexander [B]PM [ATTACH=full]1266216[/ATTACH] [/B][/QUOTE]
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