March 6th | Fastorum Liber Tertius: Martius
A NP (HOC • DIE • CAESAR • PONTIF • MAXIM • FACT • EST) | Pr. Non. | III.415-428,
Sextus ubi oceano clivosum scandit Olympum 415
Phoebus et alatis aethera carpit equis,
quisquis ades castaeque colis penetralia Vestae,
gratare, Iliacis turaque pone focis.
Caesaris innumeris, quos maluit ille mereri,
accessit titulis pontificalis honor. 420
ignibus aeternis aeterni numina praesunt
Caesaris: imperii pignora iuncta vides.
di veteris Troiae, dignissima praeda ferenti,
qua gravis Aeneas tutus ab hoste fuit,
ortus ab Aenea tangit cognata sacerdos 425
numina: cognatum, Vesta, tuere capuf!
quos sancta fovet ille manu, bene vivitis, ignes:
vivite inexstincti, flammaque duxque, precor.
415 When the sixth sun climbs up Olympus’ steep from ocean, and through the ether takes his way on his winged steeds, all ye, whoe’er ye are, who worship at the shrine of the chaste Vesta, wish the goddess joy and offer incense on the Ilian hearth. To Caesar’s countless titles, which he has preferred to earn, was added the honour of the pontificate.1 Over the eternal fire the divinity of Caesar, no less eternal, doth preside: the pledges of empire thou seest side by side. Ye gods of ancient Troy, ye worthiest prize to him who bore ye, ye whose weight did save Aeneas from the foe, a priest of the line of Aeneas handles your kindred divinities; Vesta, do thou guard his kindred head!2 Nursed by his sacred hand, ye fires live well. Ο live undying, flame and leader both, I pray.
Augustus accepted the title Pontifex Maximus on March 6, 12 B.C. As such, he should preside over the Vestal Virgins. He claimed descent from Aeneas, through his adoption by Julius Caesar, and so from Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, brother of Vesta.
Cf. iv. 949.