The
Pontifex Maximus (
Latin, literally: "greatest
pontiff" or "greatest bridge-builder") was the high priest of the
College of Pontiffs (
Collegium Pontificum) in
ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the
ancient Roman religion, open only to
patricians until 254 BC, when a
plebeian first occupied this post. A distinctly religious office under the early
Roman Republic, it gradually became politicized until, beginning with
Augustus, it was subsumed into the Imperial office. Its last use with reference to the emperors is in inscriptions of
Gratian (reigned 375–383) who, however, then decided to omit the words "pontifex maximus" from his title.