Publius Licinius Crassus Dives (consul 205 BC) - Career As A Priest

Career As A Priest

He is first mentioned by Livy in his Histories in connection with the death of the Pontifex Maximus Lentulus in 213 BC. In the election for Pontifex Maximus, two censors - the patrician Titus Manlius Torquatus and the plebeian Quintus Fulvius Flaccus -- were suddenly joined by Licinius Crassus, who was then standing for election as curule aedile. Presumably, by this time, he was already a pontiff or priest, in order to be eligible for election, since Livy does not mention otherwise. Surprisingly, the two eminent censors were defeated by a younger virtually unknown man.

Livy does not mention the details of this election, but does later mention that Licinius Crassus was handsome, amiable, rich, and well-connected. All of these might have helped him win popular support; it is also possible that the two eminent senior candidates cancelled each others' votes out, thus allowing the unknown third candidate to slip through.

Licinius Crassus is described as being well-versed in pontifical law; he is shown by Livy as reminding Romans of their religious duties repeatedly (particularly after the conclusion of the Second Punic War). As Pontifex Maximus and as consul, he also reminded the elderly Princeps Senatus Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus in 205 BC during a debate that he (Licinius) could not leave Italy, whereas his co-consul Scipio suffered no such religious disability.