Julius Caesar Religion Essay

As the only priestesshood involved with the College Pontiffs, the Vestal Virgins had close contact with the emperor and influence in the politics of Rome. The Pontiff Order had complete control of the state’s religion, thus acting as the as the emperor’s religious council and assisting him in all religious affairs. This role in Rome’s monarchy came with immense power and a high position of status. It was not until 104 B.C.E. that the Pontifex Maximus began to be an elected position; before this change, a pontiff was appointed membership. In 63 B.C.E. Julius Caesar was elected Pontifex Maximus – a position that was then held by every emperor thereafter (Lendering livius.org). For example, in an attempt to boost the moral standing and stress the importance of religion in Roman society, the pious emperor Agustus, the adopted son of Julius
As early as the Twelve Tables (451-450 B.C.E), the Vestals were freed from the power of her pater familias and therefore released of manus; manus was the transference of guardianship from a daughter’s father to her husband (Pomeroy 213). The chief pontiff supervised the religious and cultural aspects of the Vestals, but he had no authority over her legal matters. Her right to make a will was something that was not allowed to other women, particularly in regards to an estate and her wealth (Pomeroy 162). Due to the Vestals pledge to remain chaste, she did not have to concern herself with the law prohibiting other women from the right to custody over her child. A Vestal’s freedom from pater familias did come with some setbacks. For example, a Vestal could not then inherent from the will of her father and should she die before making her will her family could not inherent her