The dissemination of divination in roman republican times

preference for the high god category. But there were no significant differences in choices
based on religious affiliation of the participants.
It can be seen that there is a significant difference in the preference of the diviner based on
the prestige of the associated counterintuitive agent. This preference is here interpreted to
reflect a difference in the credibility of the diviners. 81 Thus, prestige of the associated
counterintuitive agent has an effect on the perceived credibility of the diviner. Low indirect
prestige gives lower credibility than high indirect prestige.
Summary
Interpretation moves from the perception of intention produced by ritualization to the
recognition of these intentional signs as communicative. Through the basic principle of
relevance used in normal everyday communication, the interpreter interprets the signs in
relation to the context given by the question. Divination however differs from normal
communication in its sign inventory being much more limited and in the interpretation of
these signs as being much more “un-coded”. In general the relation between sign and
meaning in divination is much looser than in normal communication. There are also typically
constraints on the possible subjects that are fit for a given divination practice and the form in
which answers can be given: Divination practices can give binary, discrete or rich answers.
This has consequences for the utility of the divination practice. We also found that the
credibility of the interpretation depended on prestige. Two types of prestige were identified: a
direct prestige from the proximate source. This may either be the operator, for example when
the questioner himself interprets, or the interpreter. High prestige indicates a higher
credibility value. We also found an indirect prestige effect from the prestige of the ultimate
source, the counterintuitive agent.
81 It might of course reflect something else. It has been suggested to me by evolutionary
psychologist Joseph Bulbulia (personal communication) that the size of the offerings may reflect
costly signaling. But it is not specified that it is the diviner who sacrifices. It may however, still be
a possibility. To investigate this, further research is needed.
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