Roman Divination

Question 1

what is divination?

Answer 1

• the ability to discern information from the divine
• consulting the gods about the future through signs
• yes/no questions
• useful before assembly, going to war, etc.

Question 2

what is augury?

Answer 2

• a form of divination
• augurs interpreted the will of the gods by observing the behaviour of birds (e.g. flight patterns, direction of flight, sounds/cries, etc.)
• events could be delayed or cancelled if the birds gave bad signs
• neded divine consent from the birds before a decision or innovation could be made

Question 3

what were haruspices?

sg. haruspex

Answer 3

• priests specialized in divination by examining animal entrails (liver)
• looked for signs of divine disapproval (e.g. colour, shape, abnormalities, etc.)
• usually consulted after prodigies
• used to interpret omens for the Roman Senate

Question 4

who was Attus Navius & why was he important?

Answer 4

• famous augur during Tarquin’s reign (7th-6th c. BCE)
• opposed King Tarquin’s attempt to add new cavalry units without taking the auspices (divine approval)
• reminded Tarquin that Romulus had formed the original cavalry tribes with divine guidance (augury)
• reinforced that no military changes could be made without consulting the gods

Tarquin = Lucius Tarquinian Priscus

Question 5

how did Attus Navius integrate divination into the Roman state?

Answer 5

• Tarquin told him to prove the presence of the Gods
• Tarquin told him he was thinking about cutting a whetstone w/ a razor
• Navius actually cut the whetstone (w/ the consent of the birds)
• great honour was then brought to the auguries

Question 6

what were prodigies?

Answer 6

• unexplainable events/phenomena that are divine signs showing that something is wrong with Rome’s relationship to the gods
• hermaphroditic children viewed as prodigies (ritually drowned)
• e.g. a lake overflowing, “bleeding” statues (condensation), etc.