1 Earliest Rome

8.1a The origins of the priesthoods
8.1 The earliest Roman priesthoods
In this passage, Varro, writing in the first century B.C., lists a number of major
Roman priesthoods and speculates on their original function and on the
derivation of their titles.
Varro, On the Latin Language V.83-5
See further: (on such etymologies) Hallett (1970).
The priests as a group derive their title from the sacred rites . The
name pontifices according to Quintus Scaevola 1
the pontifex maxirnus comes from the
verbs 'to be able and 'to do' , as if they were called potifices. 2
1 think,
however, that the name derives from the word 'bridge' . For it was by these officials
that the Sublician Bridge 3
was first constructed; and it has often likewise been repaired by
them. In fact, in that connection, sacred rites are carried out on both sides of the Tiber
with considerable ceremony. The curiones are called after the curiae; they were appointed
in order to perform sacred rites in the curiae:'
(84) The famines were originally called filamines, because in Latium^ they had kept
their heads covered and bound their head with a fillet . Individually the famines
have an additional title, derived from the deity whose rites they perform. Some of these
epithets are self-explanatory, some obscure: Martialis and Volcanalis , for example, are self-explanatory; Dialis and Furinalis obscure - since Dialis
comes from Jupiter (for he is also called Diovis), and Furinalis from Furrina, 6
whose
festival - the Furinales- even figures in the ritual calendar. Likewise the flamen Falacer
comes from the divine father Falacer. 6
(85) The cW/7 derive their title from the verb 'to dance' , because that is what
they are obliged to do in their regular yearly rites in the comitium'J The Luperci are so-
called because at the festival of the Lupercalia they perform rites at the Lupercaf. 8
Fratres
Arvales is the title given to those who carry out public rituals so that the fields may bear
crops: they are called fintres Arvales from the words 'to bear' and 'fields' .''
But some people have claimed that their name came from fratria; fratria is the Greek
word for a subdivision of citizens, as it is used at Naples even now. The Sodales Titiiaie
named after the twittering birds which by custom they watch in particular
augural observations. 10
1. Q. Mucius Scaevola, pontifex maxirnus e. 89-82 B.C., consul 95 B.C.
2. Varro's rules of etymology suggest that the title would correctly be potifices (not
pontifices), if it was derived from posse and fitcere. Here the specific sense of facere is 'to
do/carry out a sacrifice'.
3. The Sublician Bridge was the oldest bridge across the Tiber in Rome, built entirely of
wood (Latin sublica = wooden pile). Its upkeep was in the hands of the pontifices.
4. The thirty curiae were the earliest subdivisions into which the Roman population was
divided ~ with their own assembly place, religious and political functions.
5. The area of Italy around Rome.
6. In these cases the derivation of the name itself is unproblematic to Varro - but the nature
of the divinities themselves are as obscure for him as for us. On Furrina, see Vol. 1, 283.
195