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The dissemination of divination in roman republican times

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Statue orig<strong>in</strong>ally veiled was unveiled Trebula<br />

Mutusca<br />

An elm tree rose by itself* Nuceria<br />

Ra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> milk Lucania<br />

Ra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> blood Luna<br />

Dog was talk<strong>in</strong>g Arim<strong>in</strong>um<br />

Weapon seen fight<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the sky<br />

Moon and stars visible dur<strong>in</strong>g the day<br />

Wolf seen <strong>in</strong> the city<br />

Vultures killed by lightn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Solar eclipse<br />

Swarm <strong>of</strong> bees <strong>in</strong> front <strong>of</strong> the temple <strong>of</strong> Salus Roma<br />

Ra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> milk <strong>in</strong> the Comitium Roma<br />

Three suns seen Picenum<br />

Flames from the ground to the sky Vols<strong>in</strong>i<br />

To lambs born with horse feet and one with the head <strong>of</strong> a monkey Lucania<br />

Milk came from the ground Tarqu<strong>in</strong>ii<br />

* the sentence is difficult to decipher. Loebs translation has restored it “(..) an elm,<br />

overturned by the w<strong>in</strong>d, straightened upon its root <strong>of</strong> its own accord and rega<strong>in</strong>ed its<br />

strength”. <strong>The</strong> story is also found <strong>in</strong> Pl<strong>in</strong>y 16.132, where it is added that it was <strong>in</strong> a grove <strong>of</strong><br />

Juno.<br />

102 Obs.44<br />

Ra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> stones Etruria<br />

<strong>The</strong> lances <strong>of</strong> Mars moved <strong>in</strong> the Regia Roma<br />

Ra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> blood Anio<br />

Swarm <strong>of</strong> bees <strong>in</strong> temple <strong>in</strong> the Forum Boarium Roma<br />

Light was burn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the night <strong>in</strong> military camp (castris) Gallia<br />

Boy engulfed <strong>in</strong> flames unharmed Aricia<br />

Temple <strong>of</strong> Jupiter struck by lightn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

101 Obs.44a<br />

Shield moved by themselves<br />

She goat with burn<strong>in</strong>g horns led through city and released at the Porta Nigra Roma<br />

Ra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> clay at the Avent<strong>in</strong>e Roma<br />

Note: I have not <strong>in</strong>cluded the story about the slave Q. Servilius Caepionis, who castrated<br />

himself for the Idaean Mother, Cybele. It does not seem to be a prodigy.<br />

100 Obs.45, Pl<strong>in</strong>.Nat.2.100<br />

Fire <strong>in</strong> the sky Tarqu<strong>in</strong>ii<br />

264

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