What is "pontiffs"

Usage examples of "pontiffs".

The pontiffs decreed that these portents should be expiated by the sacrifice of oxen.

These portents were expiated by sacrifices of full-grown animals, the college of pontiffs intimated the deities to whom they were to be offered.

But then the pontiffs acquired greater influence, and the authority of the German emperors was in its wane, all the places of Italy governed themselves with less respect for the prince.

This occult science of the words and actions of law was the inheritance of the pontiffs and patricians.

The practice was too lucrative to expire with the occasion: and this tribute became the foundation of all the tithes and tenths on ecclesiastical benefices, which have been granted by the Roman pontiffs to Catholic sovereigns, or reserved for the immediate use of the apostolic see.

After the deaths of some pontiffs, Osporco, a Roman, succeeded to the papacy.

The ambition of the Roman people caused many wars between them and the pontiffs, whose authority had previously been used to free them from the emperors.

And thus the too eager desire to gratify themselves, caused the pontiffs by degrees to lose their military power.

The pontiffs, who at this time resided in France, and the emperors, who abode in Germany, in order to maintain their influence in Italy, sent among us multitudes of soldiers of many countries, as English, Dutch, and Bretons.

In the precincts of the temple of Vulcan and Concord there was a rain of blood, and the pontiffs announced that the spears had been shaken and the image of Juno Sospita at Lanuvium had shed tears.

The pontiffs were thus prevented on religious grounds from appointing Dolabella, and they inaugurated P.

Fulvius Flaccus was co-opted by the college as one of the pontiffs, and M.

One result of this was that the Latin Festival was broken up by a terrible storm which burst suddenly upon the Alban Mount, and the pontiffs ordered it to be celebrated afresh.

The pontiffs decided that the Latin Festival not having been properly and duly celebrated must be observed anew, and that the people of Lanuvium, whose fault made the renewal necessary, should provide the victims.

The senate ordered such measures to be taken as the pontiffs should direct.