pontifex maximus

Home > ... > Philosophy and Religion > Ancient Religions > Ancient Religion > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side The Concise Oxford Dictionary ... The Concise Oxford Dictionary ... The Columbia Encyclopedia, ...

pontifex maximus

pontifex maximus , highest priest of Roman religion and official head of the college of pontifices. As the chief administrator of religious affairs he regulated the conduct of religious ceremonies, consecrated temples and other holy places, and controlled the calendar. During the time of the empire, and until Christianity became firmly established, the emperor was designated pontifex maximus. After the supremacy of Christianity, the popes assumed the title.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-pontifex" title="Facts and information about pontifex maximus">pontifex maximus</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"pontifex maximus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"pontifex maximus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-pontifex.html

"pontifex maximus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-pontifex.html

Learn more about citation styles

Pontifex Maximus

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions 1997, originally published by Oxford University Press 1997. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Pontifex Maximus (Lat., pontifex, ‘bridge-maker’, of uncertain significance). Title of the pope. It was originally the title of the chief pagan priest at Rome. In English it is rendered ‘supreme pontiff’.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O101-PontifexMaximus" title="Facts and information about pontifex maximus">pontifex maximus</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JOHN BOWKER. "Pontifex Maximus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Pontifex Maximus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-PontifexMaximus.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Pontifex Maximus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-PontifexMaximus.html

Learn more about citation styles

Pontifex Maximus

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | 2000 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Pontifex Maximus (Lat., ‘Supreme Pontiff’). Originally a pagan title for the chief priest at Rome, from the 15th cent. it became a regular title of honour for Popes.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O95-PontifexMaximus" title="Facts and information about pontifex maximus">pontifex maximus</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Pontifex Maximus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Pontifex Maximus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-PontifexMaximus.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Pontifex Maximus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-PontifexMaximus.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable entry for Pontifex Maximus

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	When President Bush went to Atlanta to lay a wreath on the grave of Martin Luther King Jr., on the 75th anniversary of his birth, he was greeted by protesters shouting, "Bush, go home" and "Peace, not war.".(George W. Bush)(Brief Article) Magazine article from: National Review; 2/9/2004
	Of Time and the Reiver. Magazine article from: The Humanist; 3/1/1995
	With morbid ideals.(Oklahoma City bombing) Magazine article from: National Review; 5/15/1995

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Missionaries of Hate Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 3/19/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...s current leader, called the Pontifex Maximus. In death, Smith was able to...Hale with something the Pontifex Maximus had longed for ever since he was...his direction, and the Pontifex Maximus had his sound-bite prepared...
	Hale church has nothing on Churchill Newspaper article from: Herald News, The (Joliet, IL); 4/30/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...Hale of East Peoria. He is the "pontifex maximus" of what used to be called the...until they can agree on a new p-maximus, then send up a white plume to...racist Matt Hale, the pontifex maximus, then the corner of Jefferson...
	President or pontiff?(Insider Report) Magazine article from: The New American; 2/23/2004; 559 words ; ...the President of the United States, in his role as pontifex maximus of the American civil religion, will, and should, honor him." "Pontifex Maximus" was a title bestowed on Roman officials whose authority...
	Racist literature distributed near IU News Wire article from: University Wire; 10/7/1998; ; 700+ words ; ...banners, blond hair, blue eyes and blue skies. Pontifex Maximus, or Supreme Leader, Matt Hale is the only member...answer to a national director, who answers to the Pontifex Maximus. There are two uniformed branches that represent...
	CHURCH OF THE CREATOR BORN IN FLORIDA ONE 'SUPREME LEADER' HAD TIES TO DENVER MEATPACKING CASE.(City Desk/Local) Newspaper article from: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO); 12/26/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...suicide. Rudy Stanko was named supreme leader, or pontifex maximus, by Klassen in 1990. In 1984, Stanko was convicted...Based on the book, Klassen named him as the next pontifex maximus. After he was released from prison in 1990, Stanko...
	Spanning the years, an honour for Telford Newspaper article from: The Scotsman; 7/5/2007; ; 700+ words ; HE WAS the "pontifex maximus" - the high priest of bridges, whose spans still provide vital...esteemed civil engineer in the empire. He was referred to as 'pontifex maximus' for his considerable proficiency in building bridges." TELFORD...
	The puzzling pope.(The Rule of Benedict)(Book review) Magazine article from: Commonweal; 11/3/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...s finest hours, even if Dupuis was cleared, more or less. The most interesting chapter in the book--"Pontifex Maximus, Pontifex Minimus"--compares the papal styles of John Paul II and Benedict, the latter far more low-key than the...
	COLUMN: Hale creates own reality: Hatemonger on trial News Wire article from: University Wire; 1/13/2003; ; 654 words ; ...a backward religion exist? The greatest asset the World Church of the Creator has is Matthew Hale -- aka Pontifex Maximus (or Pontifex Ignoramus, as I call him). The church has been in the spotlight since Hale became the leader. Hale is...
	The name of the Pope.(Religion) Magazine article from: Quadrant; 4/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...title of pope. In contrast, the priestly title of pontifex maximus (supreme pontiff) descends from pre-Christian Rome...pertained only to the bishop of Rome. The Latin word pontifex means bridge-builder, and by virtue of having survived...
	A bunch of losers; Neo-Nazis in Montana. Magazine article from: The Economist (US); 11/28/2009; 700+ words ; ...electric can-opener and spent it on printing copies of his books. He killed himself in 1993. His successor as "Pontifex Maximus" was jailed for 40 years in 2005 for plotting to kill a judge. The movement is now largely dead, says Travis McAdam...