DIVINATIONDIVINATION

General info…General info…Divine communicate directly with human Divine communicate directly with human

beingsbeingsDirect visit – appear in personDirect visit – appear in personGods or Fates sent signsGods or Fates sent signsArt of interrupting divine will – called divinationArt of interrupting divine will – called divination

Question:Question: How do we divine the future How do we divine the future

in the modern world?in the modern world?

21 March - 20 AprilAries

24 July – 23 AugustLeo

23 November – 21 DecemberSagittarius

21 April - 21 MayTaurus

24 August - 23 SeptemberVirgo

22 December – 20 JanuaryCapricorn

22 May - 22 JuneGemini

24 September - 23 OctoberLibra

21 January - 19 FebruaryAquarius

23 June - 23 JulyCancer

24 October – 22 NovemberScorpio

20 February - 20 MarchPisces

AuguryAuguryFlight and song of birdsFlight and song of birdsFounding of Rome herselfFounding of Rome herself

Romulus (12 vultures) and Remus Romulus (12 vultures) and Remus (6 vultures)(6 vultures)

Yes or noYes or no It could not fill in the detailsIt could not fill in the detailsMagistratesMagistrates Establish divine approval or Establish divine approval or

disapprovaldisapproval

Augury – The ‘How to…’Augury – The ‘How to…’

Magistrates sit in open to “take the Magistrates sit in open to “take the auspice”auspice”

Accompanied by augur Accompanied by augur Songs, flight patterns, appearanceSongs, flight patterns, appearanceQuarter of sky Quarter of sky Augur was blindfolded Augur was blindfolded In 99 BC –In 99 BC –auguraculumauguraculum

Sacred FowlsSacred Fowls

Watching eating habitsWatching eating habitsKept in cages Kept in cages

– instant answers– instant answersCakeCakeGreedy = good signGreedy = good signNo interest or refused to leave or tried No interest or refused to leave or tried

to fly away = bad signto fly away = bad signRoman General - Claudius PulcherRoman General - Claudius Pulcher

‘‘Let them drink instead!’Let them drink instead!’

LightningLightning

Will of gods – flashes of lightningWill of gods – flashes of lightningSent by JupiterSent by JupiterSacred spacesSacred spacesPostpone businessPostpone businessPolitical factionsPolitical factionsThunder – omenThunder – omen

December 3 – shortage of fish!December 3 – shortage of fish!Omina impetrativaOmina impetrativa

Unsought OmensUnsought OmensOmina oblativaOmina oblativaAppear to anyone/any formAppear to anyone/any formHistorian Livy mentions omens: Historian Livy mentions omens:

Observed during early years of war Observed during early years of war against Hannibalagainst Hannibal

Conclusive evidence that the aliens Conclusive evidence that the aliens are coming…are coming…

Unsought OmensUnsought Omens

Presented problems…Presented problems…Which divine being?Which divine being?What did it refer to?What did it refer to?Who was it meant for?Who was it meant for?What did it refer to?What did it refer to?What did it mean?What did it mean?

Private citizensPrivate citizens

Nemo is OMEN Nemo is OMEN spelt backwards… spelt backwards…

a sign maybe?a sign maybe?

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READ: # 13 – OmensREAD: # 13 – Omens

Author:Author:Summarise:Summarise:

QUESTION:QUESTION:

What omens are seen?What omens are seen?

The Sibylline booksThe Sibylline booksOmina oblativaOmina oblativa

Advise the senate – Advise the senate – consult booksconsult books

Collection of oraclesCollection of oraclesBought by Tarquin the ProudBought by Tarquin the ProudFrom Sibyl of Cumae From Sibyl of Cumae

66thth Century BC Century BCSibylSibyl

Priestess of ApolloPriestess of ApolloFutureFutureAeneasAeneas

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READ: #14 – The Sibylline BooksREAD: #14 – The Sibylline Books

Author:Author:

Summarise:Summarise:

QUESTION:QUESTION:

Why do slaves get assigned to the Why do slaves get assigned to the men?men?

HaruspicyHaruspicyExamine internal Examine internal

organsorgans Imperfections – displeasedImperfections – displeasedBronze model – liver Bronze model – liver

(16 regions)(16 regions)EtruscansEtruscansHaruspices (pl.) Haruspices (pl.)

Haruspex (sing.)Haruspex (sing.)Priests from EtruriaPriests from Etruria

Unsought omens if no augurUnsought omens if no augurProfessionals (not elected)Professionals (not elected)

HaruspicyHaruspicy60 in reign of Augustus60 in reign of AugustusNever an official priesthoodNever an official priesthood

No prestige and authorityNo prestige and authority

DreamsDreamsBased on old beliefs – sent by Based on old beliefs – sent by

godsgods Individuals – not state religionIndividuals – not state religionLucretius – follower of Lucretius – follower of

Epicurean philosophyEpicurean philosophyDreams meaninglessDreams meaninglessPeople believedPeople believed

Suetonius – historianSuetonius – historianAugustus’ life saved by Augustus’ life saved by

friend – don’t stay in tentfriend – don’t stay in tentJulius Caesar – raped motherJulius Caesar – raped mother

DreamsDreamsLivy – about HannibalLivy – about Hannibal

218 BC Hannibal waiting to 218 BC Hannibal waiting to invadeinvade

Young man – a god – guide Young man – a god – guide him to Italyhim to Italy

Told not to look backTold not to look backCurious – he lookedCurious – he lookedSnakeSnakeStorm cloud – lightning and Storm cloud – lightning and

thunderthunderDevastate Italy – took next 15 Devastate Italy – took next 15

yearsyears

AstrologyAstrologyConsult the starsConsult the starsFrom the East – 2From the East – 2ndnd Century BC Century BCEarth – centre of universeEarth – centre of universe

Seven bodies: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Seven bodies: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, the MoonSun, Venus, Mercury, the Moon

Influence whatever they shone uponInfluence whatever they shone uponPredetermined futurePredetermined futureLoopholesLoopholes

AstrologyAstrologyNot universally popularNot universally popularMeaningless to worship gods?Meaningless to worship gods?Try to fulfil destinyTry to fulfil destinySenate banned astrologers every Senate banned astrologers every

now and thennow and then Increasingly influentialIncreasingly influentialAugustus – told he would be kingAugustus – told he would be king

AstrologyAstrologySuetoniusSuetonius says that says that TiberiusTiberius was… was…

““careless about the gods and religion careless about the gods and religion because he was addicted to astrology because he was addicted to astrology and believed everything was ruled by and believed everything was ruled by fate.”fate.”

Vettius ValensVettius Valens says… says…““It is impossible for any man by prayers It is impossible for any man by prayers

and sacrifice to overcome what is fixed and sacrifice to overcome what is fixed from the beginning.”from the beginning.”

AstrologyAstrologyTacitusTacitus says that astrologers are… says that astrologers are…

““a breed of men who betray the a breed of men who betray the powerful and deceive the hopeful” powerful and deceive the hopeful” and “were constantly being banned and “were constantly being banned from Rome and were constantly from Rome and were constantly being found there.”being found there.”

Astrology…Astrology…Not all believed BUT majority practiced in Not all believed BUT majority practiced in

some form or anothersome form or anotherForbidden in 4Forbidden in 4thth Century AD by Christian Century AD by Christian

EmperorsEmperors

HOWEVER – despite this…HOWEVER – despite this…

What types of Divination do we still What types of Divination do we still use? Why do we use them? What use? Why do we use them? What is the significance? What does is the significance? What does seeking to know the future tell us seeking to know the future tell us about ourselves (humans)?about ourselves (humans)?

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READ: # 15 – AstrologyREAD: # 15 – Astrology

Author:Author:

Summarise:Summarise:

QUESTION:QUESTION:

What are the dangers of What are the dangers of astrology?astrology?

What impact did the introduction of What impact did the introduction of astrology have on the traditional astrology have on the traditional

methods of divination?methods of divination?

What explanations might be given for What explanations might be given for the importance Romans attached to the importance Romans attached to

omens and the practice of divination?omens and the practice of divination?

DiscussDiscuss