At the Dawn of a New Era
Around the Election of Octavian Augustus to the Office of Pontifex Maximus
Abstract
The article outlines the circumstances surrounding the election of Octavian Augustus as head of the College of Pontifices (pontifex maximus). However, Augustus, consistently reaching for more powers (imperium proconsulare, tribunicia potestas, censoria potestas), did not decide to deprive Lepidus of his position as pontifex maximus. This raises the question of why Augustus tolerated such a situation for almost a quarter of a century, the reasons for not depriving his former political opponent of this important priestly dignity. At the time of his election as pontifex maximus, Augustus’s political position was unshakable; the scope of his power included the powers once held by consuls, censors, and plebeian tribunes. Was the reason for reaching for the authority of the college of pontiffs merely a matter of prestige? It rather seems that this choice was the last link in a certain chain of events, an expression of Augustus’ consistent policy aimed at building and then consolidating a charismatic reign.
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