PROKURATOR CZY PREFEKT - UWAGI O ZARZĄDZANIU RZYMSKIMI PROWINCJAMI W KONTEKŚCIE TYTUŁU PONCJUSZA PIŁATA
PROCURATOR OR PREFECT - REMARKS ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF ROMAN PROVINCES IN THE CONTEXT OF PONTIUS PILATE'S TITLE

Summary/Abstract: Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who held office from 26 to 36 CE, has been of interest to researchers for centuries. He is best known for his role in the trial of Jesus Christ. However, there is some debate in specialist literature as to his actual title and position. Various terms are used in ancient sources. The Gospels use the term ἡγεμών, Josephus used several different terms (including ἐπίτροπος, διάδοχος, ἔπαρχος), Philo of Alexandria referred to him as ἐπίτροπος, and Tacitus used the title procurator. In 1961, the only epigraphic evidence dedicated to Pilate was discovered. The so-called ,,Pilate Stone" indicated that his official title was praefectus Iudaeae. This discovery did not end the debate about Pilate's position. Namely, prefects were Roman equestrian officials with military, administrative, and judicial powers, while procurators initially performed mainly fiscal functions. There has been a long-standing debate in the literature about Pontius Pilate's actual title, i.e., whether he was a procurator, a prefect, or whether he combined both functions. The aim of this article is to conduct an in-depth analysis of all available Latin and Greek sources in which Pilate's title is mentioned, as well as a review of the most important publications and positions of researchers on the subject, and, consequently, an attempt to answer one of the most puzzling questions.

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