PO'NTIFEX was the name by which the Romans designated the members of the most illustrious of their great colleges of priests, and is supposed to have been derived from the sacrifices having been performed on a bridge connecting the city on both sides of the Tiber. The pontiffs are said to have been instituted by Nunut Pompilius for the purpose of taking care that the laws relating to religion should be observed by individuals as well as by the state. Their original number, according to Livy (x. 6), was four, two for each of the tribes of the Ramnes and Titles. Cicero (De Rep.' ii. 14) says that their number was five, but he includes the Pontifex Maximus, or chief pontiff The minor pontiffs were a college of priests of which scarcely any thing is known : Cicero mentions three members of it (' Harusp. Reap.' 6). The name of the minor pontiffs was afterwards transferred to, or perhaps assumed by, the secretaries of the other pontiffs (pon tifices majoree : Liv. xxii. 57 ; Capitolin., 31acrin.; 7).
When the great state offices had become accessible to the ple beians, they also obtained the privilege of being represented in the college of pontiffs by members of their own order. This change was brought about in 300 n.c. by the Ogulnian law, by which the original number of pontiffs, through the addition of four plebeians, was in creased to eight, or, including the chief pontiff, to nine. (Liv. x. 6,9.) The chief pontiff, however, continued to be taken from the patricians to the year 254 s.c. (Liv. Epit.' xviii.) This number remained the same for more than two centuries, until in 81 B.C. the dictator Sulla nixed it to fifteen. (Liv. Epit.' 89.) J. Caesar added one more pontiff. (Dion Cass., xlii., p. 236.) In the early ages of the history of Rome the pontiffs were elected by the kings, but after the overthrow of the kingly power the college exercised the right of co-optation (Dionys. Hal., ii. 73; Livy, xl. 42), until 104 n.c., when the right of electing persona to the office of pontiff was partly transferred to the people by the Domitian law ; for, according to this law, the co-optation of the college was still necessary as a religious ceremony, after a person bad been elected by the people. (Cie.,' in RulL; ii. 7.) When
Sulk increased the number of pontiffs, he, at the same time, gave back to the college the full right of co-optatiou ; the tribune Labienus, Indeed, in 63 B.c., revived the Domitian law, but it was again abolished by Antony. (Dion Casa., ally., p. 305.) The chief pontiff, who at first seems to have been appointed by the kings, was afterwards elected by the curie. in the coraitia curiata, and generally taken from the number of the pontiffs themselves, or from those who had held the highest offices of the state. (Liv. zL 42; comp. with xxv. 5.) The func tions of the college of pontiffs were not limited to the service of any 'articular deity. It had very extensive powers, and not only had the superintendence over all matters of religion, but even those which were in any degree connected with it, such as marriage, adoption by rulrogation (Cie.,' Pro. Dom.,' 13), and funeral ceremonies. The pontiffs had a direct judicial power, and might, in some instances, even punish with death. (Cie., 'Do Legg.,' ii. 9; comp. with Liv. xxii. 57.) The chief pontiff, whose office, like that of the other pontiffs, was for life, and who was not responsible either to the senate or the people, was supreme judge in all matters relating to, or connected with, religion; and from his sentence an appeal could only be made to the people in asses where a magistrate was fined, or his person seized (Liv. xl. 42); fur the few instances of later times, where a tribune interposed and modified the sentence of the chief pontiff, seem to have been anoma lies. liis powers extended over magistrates as well as private indi viduals; and the former, if acting contrary to the laws of religion, might be fined (Liv. xxvii. 51; Cie., 'Philip,' xl. 8 ; Liv. xl. 42), or compelled by the chief pontiff to resign their office. It also formed part of his duties to regulate the calendar, and to interpret the ceremonial laws, for he and his college were In the exclusive posses.