Roman Office of the Pontifex Maximus
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Numa Pompilius |
The office was said to begin during the tenure of the Kings of Rome.
However, very little recorded evidence exists. This name has been recorded
as Numa Marcius and it is difficult to determine if it was a different
person, or the actual second king of Rome. |
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Papirius |
Complete dates in office unknown. |
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Furius |
Complete dates in office unknown. |
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Cornelius Cossas |
Complete dates in office unknown. |
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Minucius |
Complete dates in office unknown. |
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Follius Flaccinator |
Complete dates in office unknown. |
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Cornelius Callissa |
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Cornelius Scipio Barbatus |
Complete dates in office unknown. |
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Tib. Coruncanius |
First Plebeian Pontifex Maximus |
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Caecilius Metellus |
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Cornelius Lentulus Caudinus |
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Licinius Crassus Dives |
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Servilius Geminus |
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Aemilius Lepidus |
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No Pontifex Maximus |
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Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum |
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Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio |
Described by Plutarch as the first Pontifex to break the religious
law not allowing him to leave Italy. |
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Licinius Crassus Dives Mucianus |
Also noted as the first to leave Italy, during the social disorder
of the Gracchi
Brothers. After which, it became increasingly common and
certainly not against the law for the Pontifex to leave Italy. |
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P. Mucius Scaevola |
Complete dates in office unknown, but assumedly shortly after his predecessor. |
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Caecilius Metellus Delmaticus |
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Domitius Ahenobarbus |
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Q. Mucius Scaevola |
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Caecilius Metellus Pius |
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Gaius
Julius Caesar |
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Aemilius Lepidus |
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Augustus |
With the accession of Augustus, the election of the Pontifex Maximus
ceased as each successive emperor held the office. (Emperor
list) In 382 AD, when the Eastern emperor Theodosius established
Christianity as the official religion of the empire, the Western Emperor
Gratian relinquished the office to the Christian Popes of Rome, who have
held it since that time.
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