History of Pontifex Maximus

[gilius]

Anti-Catholics claim that the title Pontifex Maximus (religious high priest) is currently held by the Pope and goes back to Babylon. They trace it as follows:

539 BC (or 487 BC?): Babylon > Pergamon (after Cyrus invaded Babylon)

133 BC: Pergamon > Rome

 

I checked all the sources for the invasion of Babylon, but cannot find any mention of the priests moving to Pergamon, so would anyone happen to know the source of this info?

 

Besides the Kingdom of Pergamon being bequeathed to Rome, does anyone know any sources pertaining to the actual religion/priests moving with them?

 

Another way this might be traceable: anti-catholics say that catholics worshipped the sun god Baal and that this also originated in Babylon. Well, according to my rusty knowledge of paganism, Baal was actually a Storm God, so could the Catholics be confused with Marduk or Sol? (my Persian source book says that Bel "Lord" is an AKA for Marduk).

 

The anti-Catholics sure make it difficult to understand their hypothesis...

Edited August 5, 2013 by gilius

[gilius]

I've currently traced the first move from:

http://hope-of-israel.org/pope.htm

 

To:

http://ldolphin.org/PDFs/The_Two_Babylons-Alexander_Hislop.pdf

 

To:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=M4hCAAAAIAAJ&q=cyrus#v=thumbnail&q=pergamos&f=false

""When the Medes and Persians introduced another religion into the
great empire of the East, this rascality was after many plottings driven
out, and foimd a refuge in Asia Minor, which became their head-quar-
ters. Their holy brethren in all quarters would keep up correspondence
Avith them, and cause a strange mixture of heads. It is also not a little
curious to observe that these heads are shaven, just like the other
monkish orders, with the exception of the Christian monks, who afTect
to retain a memorial of the crown of thorns, by leaving a circle of hair.
It is not unlikely that at the time these figures were made, there was a
closer community of feeling and of interest among all the diversified
orders of holy men than we are aware of; and the seat of their autlm-
rity being shifted from Babylon to Pergamos would cause a great resort
of them to Asia Minor."

 

Now trying to figure out the source of the above paragraph? No references from what I can see....

[gilius]

This goes back to the same source as above:

 

POLITICS, POWER AND THE PRIESTHOOD

 

Nebuchadnezzar

[Number Six]

I'm having difficulties to follow this discussion. Are you talking this story of the Pontifex Maximus coming from Pergamon to Rome as an actual historical fact, or are you criticizing this... "theory"?

Are we aware that, historically speaking, the Roman Pontifex has nothing to do with Pergamon?

[Virgil61]

I don't know gilius, why even tackle that sort of silliness? If people want to be critical of Catholicism then fine, if they use historical nuttiness as part of their proof factual evidence won't change their opinions.