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Roman Augury and Omens

Roman Augury and Omens. By Jake Cayton. Sibylline Books. The Sibylline Books were very important and could be tied in to Roman Omens and Superstitions.

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Roman Augury and Omens

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  1. Roman Augury and Omens • By Jake Cayton

  2. Sibylline Books • The Sibylline Books were very important and could be tied in to Roman Omens and Superstitions. • The books were consulted on the order of the senate in times of crisis and calamity, so that the Romans could learn how the wrath of the gods could be allayed. • These books were accidentally burned in 83 B.C.

  3. Omens • During Roman times Omens were seen as Disasters and Catastrophes. These tragic events were known as manifestations of divine disapproval. • Auroras, Comets, and meteors were also seen as Omens • Romans looked to the Heavens for signs of what might happen on earth. • In 44 B.C. it was said that the shapes of horses and soldiers were seen in Auroras, which foretold of the fall of Julius Caesar.

  4. The Sibylline Books illustrated the seriousness of the Roman society and the spiritual world. • No official state business was held without the taking of Omens and Auspices into effect. • Auspices are also known as Augury. • In Homers the Odyssey, Odysseus forgot to pay tribute to Poseidon and because of that a bad Omen was casted on him, which was the fact that it took him 10 years to get home.

  5. The most feared Omens were thunder and lightning because both of these were characteristics of Zeus the most powerful god.

  6. Augury • Augury also known as Auspices is the study of birds and the signs they create. • Augury was very important when ever a roman official would need confirmation on a policy and Augury was scheduled. • Many things were noted during these sessions which were: whether the birds made sounds, the direction that they were flying in, and if they changed directions. • The person that conducted the Augury was an Augur

  7. The observations made by the Augur would take a full day, and once that day was complete the Official would get the result from the Augur. • An Augury was also held when ever a new representative of the government was being appointed. • Also an Augury could be if an unexpected visit from a particular animal happened, for instance a bear (Artemis), wolf (Apollo), Eagle (Zeus), serpent (Asclepius), or an owl (minerva).

  8. Questions • What are the Sibylline Books? • When were they used? • Name 4 examples of Omens. • In what story was an omen used? and what was that omen? • what is an Augur? • What is an Augury? • name 3 types of animals that could be an unexpected omen that an Augur would notice • How long did an Augury take? • What shapes were seen in the sky to foreshadow Caesars death? • What omens were most feared?

  9. Works Cited • Augury (divination). N.p.: n.p., n.d. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/42813/augury>. • “Augury:The Bird Signs.” Eco Friendly Shelter. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.ecofriendlyshelters.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=716:bird-signs-and-the-human-psyche&catid=58&Itemid=257>. • Oceanus Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/from-ancient-roman-omens--new-data-on-solar-activity>. • “Omens and Superstition.” Roman-Empire.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/superstitions.html>. • “Roman omens showed the will of the gods.” The Romans. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://www.the-romans.eu/society/Roman-omens.php>.

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