PONTIFEX, PONTIFE, or High Priest (probably from pous, a bridge, and facere, to sacrifice), a person among the Romans who had the direction and superintendence of divine worship. The Roman pontiffs, which formed the most illustrious among the great colleges of priests were supposed to be founded by Numa. A pontifex might hold any other office, whether military, civil, or priestly, provided they did not interfere with one another. The college of pontiffs, which was always ruled over by the emperors, continued to exist until the overthrow of paganism, when the title was assumed by the Christian bishop of Rome, and subsequently by the Pope.