Curio maximus
Encyclopedia
The curio maximus was an obscure priesthood
in ancient Rome
that had oversight of the curiae
, groups of citizens loosely affiliated within what was originally a tribe
. Each curia was led by a curio, who was admitted only after the age of 50 and held his office for life. The curiones were required to be in good health and without physical defect, and could not hold any other civil or military office; the pool of willing candidates was thus neither large nor eager. In the early Republic, the curio maximus was always a patrician, and officiated as the senior interrex
. The earliest curio maximus identified as such is Servius Sulpicius
(consul
500 BC), who held the office in 463. The first plebeian
to hold the office was elected in 209 BC.
The election of a plebeian to succeed an impeccably pedigreed Aemilius Paullus was predictably controversial, even though the office of curio maximus had become "anachronistic and somewhat bizarre," and the election of both a plebeian pontifex maximus
as early as 254 BC and rex sacrorum
just the previous year would have seemed to clear the way. When the patricians objected to the candidacy of C. Mamilius Atellus, the tribunes of the plebs
, who normally withheld themselves from religious affairs, were called in. They followed procedure by referring the matter to the senate
, who promptly tossed it back to them. Political jockeying no longer discernible in the historical record was perhaps in play. Mamilius was duly elected, and held the office until he died of plague in 175 BC. His successor, also a plebeian, was C. Scribonius Curio, whose new cognomen
passed to his descendants
, most notably the father and son active at the time of Julius Caesar
.
The electoral procedure for the office of curio maximus probably resembled that of pontifex maximus; that is, election through the tribes
. Others known to have held the office include C. Calvisius Sabinus, the consul of 39 BC.
The curio maximus presided over the Quirinalia, and also the agricultural festivals of the curiae such as the Fordicidia
, when pregnant cows were sacrificed, and the Fornacalia
, or Oven Festival. The Fornacalia had no fixed date, and though each curia might celebrate the festival separately, the date was determined by the curio maximus and posted in the forum
. Although the curio was a kind of priest, he had the power to convene meetings for political purposes, and each curia also had a flamen
curialis whose duties were specifically religious. Another duty of the curio maximus was collecting "religious contributions" from the curiae (curionium aes).
College of Pontiffs
The College of Pontiffs or Collegium Pontificum was a body of the ancient Roman state whose members were the highest-ranking priests of the polytheistic state religion. The college consisted of the Pontifex Maximus, the Vestal Virgins, the Rex Sacrorum, and the flamines...
in ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
that had oversight of the curiae
Curia
A curia in early Roman times was a subdivision of the people, i.e. more or less a tribe, and with a metonymy it came to mean also the meeting place where the tribe discussed its affairs...
, groups of citizens loosely affiliated within what was originally a tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
. Each curia was led by a curio, who was admitted only after the age of 50 and held his office for life. The curiones were required to be in good health and without physical defect, and could not hold any other civil or military office; the pool of willing candidates was thus neither large nor eager. In the early Republic, the curio maximus was always a patrician, and officiated as the senior interrex
Interrex
The Interrex was literally a ruler "between kings" during the Roman Kingdom and the Roman Republic. He was in effect a short-term regent....
. The earliest curio maximus identified as such is Servius Sulpicius
Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus
Servius Sulpicius Camerinus Cornutus, the short form of whose name is Camerinus, was consul at Rome in the year 500 BC, serving at first with Manius Tullius Longus....
(consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
500 BC), who held the office in 463. The first plebeian
Plebs
The plebs was the general body of free land-owning Roman citizens in Ancient Rome. They were distinct from the higher order of the patricians. A member of the plebs was known as a plebeian...
to hold the office was elected in 209 BC.
The election of a plebeian to succeed an impeccably pedigreed Aemilius Paullus was predictably controversial, even though the office of curio maximus had become "anachronistic and somewhat bizarre," and the election of both a plebeian pontifex maximus
Pontifex Maximus
The Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome. This was the most important position in the ancient Roman religion, open only to patricians until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post...
as early as 254 BC and rex sacrorum
Rex Sacrorum
In ancient Roman religion, the rex sacrorum was a senatorial priesthood reserved for patricians. Although in the historical era the pontifex maximus was the head of Roman state religion, Festus says that in the ranking of priests, the rex sacrorum was of highest prestige, followed by the flamines...
just the previous year would have seemed to clear the way. When the patricians objected to the candidacy of C. Mamilius Atellus, the tribunes of the plebs
Tribune
Tribune was a title shared by elected officials in the Roman Republic. Tribunes had the power to convene the Plebeian Council and to act as its president, which also gave them the right to propose legislation before it. They were sacrosanct, in the sense that any assault on their person was...
, who normally withheld themselves from religious affairs, were called in. They followed procedure by referring the matter to the senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
, who promptly tossed it back to them. Political jockeying no longer discernible in the historical record was perhaps in play. Mamilius was duly elected, and held the office until he died of plague in 175 BC. His successor, also a plebeian, was C. Scribonius Curio, whose new cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
passed to his descendants
Gaius Scribonius Curio
Gaius Scribonius Curio was the name of a father and son who lived in the late Roman Republic.-Father:Gaius Scribonius Curio was a Roman statesman and orator. He was nicknamed Burbulieus for the way he moved his body while speaking...
, most notably the father and son active at the time of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
.
The electoral procedure for the office of curio maximus probably resembled that of pontifex maximus; that is, election through the tribes
Tribal Assembly
The Tribal Assembly of the Roman Republic was the democratic assembly of Roman citizens. During the years of the Roman Republic, citizens were organized on the basis of thirty-five Tribes: Four Tribes encompassed citizens inside the city of Rome, while the other thirty-one Tribes encompassed...
. Others known to have held the office include C. Calvisius Sabinus, the consul of 39 BC.
The curio maximus presided over the Quirinalia, and also the agricultural festivals of the curiae such as the Fordicidia
Fordicidia
In ancient Roman religion, the Fordicidia was a festival of fertility, held April 15, that pertained to animal husbandry. It involved the sacrifice of a pregnant cow to Tellus, or Mother Earth, in proximity to the festival of Ceres on April 19....
, when pregnant cows were sacrificed, and the Fornacalia
Fornacalia
The Fornacalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the goddess Fornax in order that the grain might be properly baked¹. The festival is said to have been instituted by Numa Pompilius²...
, or Oven Festival. The Fornacalia had no fixed date, and though each curia might celebrate the festival separately, the date was determined by the curio maximus and posted in the forum
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum...
. Although the curio was a kind of priest, he had the power to convene meetings for political purposes, and each curia also had a flamen
Flamen
In ancient Roman religion, a flamen was a priest assigned to one of fifteen deities with official cults during the Roman Republic. The most important three were the flamines maiores , who served the three chief Roman gods of the Archaic Triad. The remaining twelve were the flamines minores...
curialis whose duties were specifically religious. Another duty of the curio maximus was collecting "religious contributions" from the curiae (curionium aes).