Editing Roman Kingdom (section)

===Chief Priest===
What is known for certain is that the king alone possessed the right to the [[augury]] on behalf of Rome as its chief [[augur]], and no public business could be performed without the will of the gods made known through auspices. The people knew the king as a mediator between them and the gods (cf. Latin ''pontifex'', "bridge-builder", in this sense, between men and the gods) and thus viewed the king with religious awe. This made the king the head of the [[Religion in ancient Rome|national religion]] and its chief executive. Having the power to control the [[Roman calendar]], he conducted all religious ceremonies and appointed lower religious offices and officers. It is said that Romulus himself instituted the augurs and was believed to have been the best augur of all. Likewise, King [[Numa Pompilius]] instituted the [[pontiff]]s and through them developed the foundations of the religious dogma of Rome.