office
Pontifex Maximus
also: Pontifex maximus, chief priest
The chief priest of the Roman state religion, an office held by the emperors from Augustus on; Pliny marvels that this supreme figure stood to swear the consul's oath before a seated consul.
Reading notes
- The Letters §4.11.6 pontifex maximus
Chief priest of the Roman state, an office held by the emperor; Domitian used its authority against Cornelia.
- The Letters §10.57.2 prefects of my praetorian guard
The praefecti praetorio, commanders of the imperial guard at Rome, to whom serious offenders against imperial order were sent in chains.
- The Letters §10.68.1 supreme pontiff
The pontifex maximus, chief priest of the state religion — an office held by the emperor, so Pliny consults Trajan in that capacity.
- Panegyric to Trajan §64 the Pontifex Maximus
The chief priest of the Roman state, an office the emperors held; Pliny's wonder is that this supreme religious figure stood to swear the oath before a seated consul.