Eva Dusik-Krupa: Tradition of pontifex maximus and his role during the constantinian dynasty.

The pax deorum principle was an inherent part of roman culture. Many authors - poets, epics or prose writer - refer to this principle in theirs works since archaic times.The responsibility for keeping peace with gods at the beginning was the matter of pontifex maximus. In time it was developing and took a kind of new meaning by Octavian Augustus.When Augustus recived the title of pontifex maximus (12 B.C), the ruler become the guarantor for keeping pax deorum. After that this title was taking by followings cesars, what indicate the strong connection between power and cult in roman culture. Constantine the Great knowing its tradition also did not rejected this dignity. He decided to preserved and restructured it in Christian way.That issue was familiar also to the early christian writers, with Eusebius of Cesarea and his Vita Constantini on the lead. He assumed clearly that Constantine's victory was caused by the favor of God. Eusebius point of view was developed by other authors, like Athanasius of Alexandria and Lucifer of Cagliari, who was composing during rules of Constantine's sons. They criticised especialy the rules of Constantius by exposing the signficant diferences between him and his father in ecclesiastical policy.This topic seems to be important to understand the continuity of roman culture in early christianity and the universality of pontifex maximus and pax deorum as well.