FAQ

The Princeps as the Pontifex Maximus: the Case of Tiberius

Publication date: 03.03.2015

ELECTRUM, 2014, Volume 21, pp. 99 - 106

https://doi.org/10.4467/20800909EL.14.001.2782

Authors

Danuta Musiał
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
, Poland
All publications →

Titles

The Princeps as the Pontifex Maximus: the Case of Tiberius

Abstract

The Roman emperor accumulated political and religious power, which in republican tradition was divided between magistrates and priests. This does not mean, however, that the boundary between these authorities has been erased, which also confirms the manner in which the individual ruler held the pontifex maximus function. This article concerns two cases of Tiberius’ interventions as the pontifex maximus recorded by Tacitus. The first event is connected with the choosing of a new Vestal, and the next is related to the flamen Dialis’ (S. Cornelius Maluginensis) requests for governorship of the province. In both situations, the emperor appeared before the Senate in a dual role; he presented the pontiffs’ opinion as pontifex maximus, and as the princeps he made a decisions on its basis.
 

References

Download references

Balbo, A. ( 2008), Oratoria, religione e storiografia negli Annales di Tacito: il caso di servio Maluginense, Bolletino di Studi Latini, 28: 609–618.

Beard, M. (1990), Priesthood in the Roman Republic, in: M. Beard, J.A. North (eds.) Pagan Priests: Religion and Power in the Ancient World, Ithaca, N.Y.: 17–48.

Beard, M., North, J.A., Price, S.R.F. (1998), Religions of Rome, Cambridge.

Benoist, S. (2009), Du pontifex maximus à l’élu de Dieu: l’Empereur et les sacra (Ier s. av. n. e.–Ve s. de n. e.), in: O. Hekster, S. Schmidt-Hofner, Ch. Witschel (eds.), Ritual Dynamics and Religious Change in the Roman Empire. Proceedings of the Eighth Workshop of the International Network Impact of Empire, Heidelberg, July 5–7, 2007, Leiden–Boston: 33–52.

Cameron, A. (2007), The Imperial Pontifex, HSCP 103: 341–384.

Chaplin, J.D. (2000), Livy’s Exemplary History, Oxford.

Fraschetti, A. (1999), Augusto e Vesta sul Palatino, ARG 1: 174–183.

Haeperen, F., van (2002), Le collège pontifical, 3ème s. av. C.–4ème s. ap. C.: contribution à l’étude de la religion publique romaine, Bruxelles.

Haeperen, F., van (2003), Des pontifes païens aux pontifes chrétiens. Transformations d’un titre : entre pouvoirs et représentations, RBPh 81: 137–159.

Hurlet, F. (2001), Les auspices d’Octavien/Auguste, CCG 12: 155–180.

Jacques, F., Scheid, J. (1990), Rome et l’intégration de l’empire: 44 av. J.-C.–260 ap. J.-C., Paris.

Levick, B. (1999), Tiberius the Politician, London.

Magdelain, A. (1990), Jus Imperium Auctoritas: études de droit romain, Rome.

Mekacher, N., Haeperen, F. van, (2003), Le choix des Vestales, miroir d’une société en évolution (IIIème s. a. C.–Ier s. p. C.), RHR 220: 63–80.

Pina Polo, F. (2011), Consuls as curatores « pacis deorum », in: H. Beck, A. Duplá, M. Jehne, F.P. Polo (eds.), Consuls and Res Publica: Holding High Office in the Roman Republic, Cambridge: 97–115.

Rüpke, J. (2005), Fasti Sacerdotum: die Mitglieder der Priesterschaften und das sakrale Funktionspersonal römischer, griechischer, orientalischer und jüdisch-christlicher Kulte in der Stadt Rom von 300 v. Chr. bis 499 n. Chr., Stuttgart.

Rüpke, J. (2006), Religiöse Zentralisierung in der späten Kaiserzeit: neue Perspektiven auf traditionelle Priesterschaften und die Rolle des Pontifex maximus, in: H. Cancik, A. Schäfer, W. Spickermann (eds.), Zentralität und Religion: zur Formierung urbaner Zentren im Imperium Romanum, Tübingen: 47–67.

Scheid, J. (1990), Romulus et ses frères: le collège des Frères Arvales, modèle du culte public dans la Rome des Empereurs, Rome.

Scheid, J. (1999), Auguste et le grand pontificat. Politique et droit sacré au début du principat, RD 77: 1–19.

Scheid, J. (2005), Augustus and Roman Religion. Continuity, Conservatism and Innovation, in: K. Galinsky (ed.), Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus, Cambridge: 175–196.

Scheid, J. (2007), Les activites religieuses des magistrats romains, in: R. Haensch, J. Heinrichs (eds.), Herrschen und Verwalten: der Alltag der römischen Administration in der Hohen Kaiserzeit, Köln: 126–144.

Scheid, J. (2011), Graeco-Roman Cultic Societies, in: M. Peachin (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Social Relations in the Roman World, Oxford: 535–547.

Várhelyi, Z. (2010), Religion of Senators in The Roman Empire. Power and the Beyond, Cambridge.

Veyne, P. (2007), Quand notre monde est devenu chrétien (312–394), Paris.

Information

Information: ELECTRUM, 2014, Volume 21, pp. 99 - 106

Article type: Original article

Authors

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Poland

Published at: 03.03.2015

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Danuta Musiał (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English