The high priest amongst Romans. Numa the Romans' lawgiver[1] established him, at a time when the Tiber[2] was flowing with a strong current and carried away the oldest pontoon-bridge. This [priest] directed soothing prayers at the river, to prevent the bridge being severed, and he persuaded the river to behave in a calm and orderly manner. And [sc. Numa] added the so-called pontifices and flamines[3] to the [sc. already-existing] priests.