Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Pontifex

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

PO'NTIFEX (γεφυροποιός). A pontiff; that is, a member of the principal order of Roman priests, to whom the superintendence of the state religion and its ceremonies was entrusted. The head of the order was styled "chief pontiff" (Pontifex Maximus, ἱεροφάντης). On coins and marbles the pontiffs are distinguished by the following implements of worship, placed as symbols by their sides: — the simpulum, securis, apex, and an aspersoir, or whisk for sprinkling the lustral water, designated aspergillum by modern writers; but the real Latin name of which has not come down to us. The chief pontiff is in most instances accompanied with the adjunct of a simpulum only; though, sometimes a securis or a secespita is added.