 The "rex sacrorum" was explicitly deprived of military and political power, but the "pontifices" were permitted to hold both magistracies and military commands.The official residence of the Pontifex Maximus was the "Domus Publica" ("State House") which stood between the House of the Vestal Virgins and the Via Sacra, close to the Regia, in the Roman Forum.His religious duties were carried out from the Regia.