1 Earliest Rome

8.5 The emperor as priest
to the headship of the whole of state religion. Priesthood in various forms
became part of the imperial image.
See further: Vol. 1, 186-92; R. L. Gordon (1990a)*.
8.5a Priestly symbols on the coinage of Caesar and Nero
Julius Caesar was the most important precedent for the imperial cumulation of
priesthoods. His membership of both the augural and pontifical colleges is
here commemorated on a coin of 46 B.C. (left, a denarius). Nero's coin (right,
an aureus), issued under his predecessor Claudius before he became emperor,
commemorates his membership of all the major colleges.
See further: (on Caesar's priesthoods) Vol. 1, 188; Weinstock (1971)
28-34*.
1. Legend = augurpont(ifex) max(inius).
2. Curved staff (litttus), carried by atigures, used for marking out the regions of the heavens
(see 4.4).
3. Jug, commonly used as a symbol of the augures- presumably a utensil in rituals of liba­
tion.
4. Pottery vessel (cuhtiius) — used in the rituals of pontifices und Vestals.
5. Sprinkler - part ol the priestly equipment of the pontifices.
6. Legend = Sacerd(otuni) coopt(atus) in omn(ia) conl(egia) supra num{emni) ex s(enat
c(onsulto); 'Coopted into all the colleges of priests as a supernumerary member, by decree
of rhe senate'.
7. Earthenware ladle (simpuviinn, or simpulum) used for pouring liquid at religious festivals
- symbol of the pontifices.
8. Tripod, used for libation and sacrifice - symbol of the quindecimviri sacris faciund/'s.
9. Libation bowl {patera) — symbol of septemviri epulonum.
8.5b Augustus becomes 'pontifex maximus'
In this passage from his own account of his reign, Augustus stresses the legitimacv
of his election to the office of pontifex maximus-And its immense popular
support. Yet underlying his words is a sense of the new status of the priesthood
-passed on, as an almost hereditary office, from one emperor ro his successorquite
at variance with republican traditions.
See further: Vol. 1, 188-9; Rowersock (1990) 380-3*; Fraschctn (1990)
330-8.
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