The dissemination of divination in roman republican times

haruspices in Republican times. They could very well have been an ad hoc group called in to
give advice. Since they were Etruscan, they drew on the Etruscan art of divination, which was
different from the traditional Roman in many ways. It gave more detailed and richer
interpretations and could produce predictions (Thulin 1906b; Thulin 1906a). This was something
alien to traditional Roman divination (See above chapter 9). This meant that responses from the
haruspices were richer in their interpretation compared to the decemviri’s and pontifices’, who
were content with identifying the proper rites. Although they were of Etruscan origin we have to
keep in mind that the Etruscan elite was thoroughly Romanized in this period (Rawson 1991b:
294).
We are in the unique position that we have a responsum from the haruspices through Cicero,
which gives us insight into how prodigies were interpreted by them. Let us take it line by line 215 :
1) Loca sacra et religiosa profana haberi (Cic.Har.9): “sacred and holy places have been profaned. That
means that religious duties have been violated.”
2) in agro Latiniensis auditus est strepitus cum fremitu ( Cic.Har.20): “in the Latiensis a groaning noise
was heard.” This is the prodigy.
3) Exauditus in agro propinquo et suburbano est strepitus quidam reconditus et horribilis fremitus
armorum (Cic.Har.20): “a loud and groaning noise of weapons was heard.” 216 This is also a prodigium
possibly a reiteration.
4) Postiliones esse Iovi, Saturno, Neptuno, Telluri, dis caelestibus (Cic.Har.20): “compensation is due to
Jupiter, Saturn, Tellus the Gods of the Heavens.”
5) Ludos minus diligenter factos pollutosque (Cic.Har.21): “the games have been celebrated without
enough care and polluted”. Games were also religious actions and dedicated to the gods.
6) Oratores contra ius fasque interfectos (Cic.Har.34): “envoys have been slain against all faith and
right.”
7) Fidem iusque iurandum neglectum (Cic.Har.36): “trust and sworn oaths have been neglected.”
215 Translations are from (Beard et al 1998: II, 176). This is a reworking of a part of (Lisdorf 2004c)
216 This is my own paraphrase, since the line is not included in the translation of (Beard et al 1998: II, 176).
216