March 6, 2015, by Will Leveritt

2027 years ago today: Augustus took the title Pontifex Maximus

Text by Bethan Huby

Image by Kelly Grimshaw and Katy Davies

 

The founder of the Roman Empire and first emperor, Augustus, was born Gaius Octavius on 23^rd September 63 BC. Through his mother, Atia Balba Caesonia, he was connected to the distinguished family of the Julii, being the great-nephew of Julius Caesar. In 27 BC he accepted from the senate a package of rights and powers which effectively made him Rome’s first emperor, and was given the name Augustus. Augustus’ rule lasted until his death in AD 14 when he was deified during Tiberius’ reign. He was widely held to have given the population peace and security following the decades of civil wars that defined the Late Republic; later emperors modeled themselves and their role within the institution on the divine Augustus.

During the later Republic the high priest of the College of Pontiffs was awarded the title of Pontifex Maximus, which was the most significant position in Roman religion. Before 12 BC Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, a member of the Second Triumvirate [alongside Octavian and Mark Antony] had been Pontifex Maximus, up until his death in late 13 or early 12. Lepidus kept the role of Pontifex Maximus even during exile: evidence of Augustus’ policy of respect for the ancient traditions and institutions of the Republic? At any rate, Augustus made a clear link in 12 BC between the position of Pontifex Maximus and that of emperor by taking on this title. The endurance of this association is demonstrated by the fact that Tiberius and his successors inherited this religious role.

Stability is displayed in propaganda-driven artworks such as the Via Labicana Augustus where Augustus appears in his capacity as Pontifex Maximus. This statue shows Augustus with his toga pulled over his head (capite velato). Augustus’ statues including the Via Labicana Augustus showed the emperor’s various roles to the expanding population of the Empire; as a military general, a religious leader and political front-runner.

Given their wide dissemination coins were significant in distributing the emperor’s image and roles, perhaps more so than statues. This was particularly important for Augustus as the first emperor establishing his authority after the civil wars. Depicting Augustus in the capacity of Pontifex Maximus illustrates religion’s importance to the empire, the political position of Augustus, and connection to political offices as in the Roman Republic, promoting a sense of continuity.

Politics and religion are interlinked. Augustus’ adoption of the title Pontifex Maximus in 12 BC embodied this notion. After his death in AD 14 this connection continued up until the Emperor Gratian (AD 375-383), who was the first emperor to refuse the title due to the changes to the State’s religion and the growing influence of Christianity. Nevertheless, not long after Gratian laid it aside the Popes took up the title, with the head of the Roman Catholic Church to this day often being associated with the term.

 

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