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The dissemination of divination in roman republican times

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Market fell on the first <strong>of</strong> January*<br />

Owl seen and caught<br />

Statue sweated for three days<br />

Fire from south to east<br />

Many different k<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>of</strong> ra<strong>in</strong><br />

* <strong>The</strong> market day, nund<strong>in</strong>ae, is calculated on the basis <strong>of</strong> an eight day cycle which were not<br />

fixed to the regular dates <strong>of</strong> the calendar (Michels: 1978:27). It is probably the day after the<br />

Kalends <strong>of</strong> January (1 January). Such days were called dies postriduani and were considered<br />

dies atri, that is “black” days (Michels: 1978:65). Either way, a black day to start <strong>of</strong>f the year<br />

must have sounded gloomy to the Romans.<br />

50 Obs.65<br />

Mules were foal<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Fire destroyed a big part <strong>of</strong> the city<br />

Note: Rasmussen counts the last one as a prodigy (Rasmussen 2003: 109). It is however<br />

described as like a prodigy (prodigii loco habitum) and therefore not <strong>in</strong>cluded.<br />

Pl<strong>in</strong>.Nat.2.147<br />

Ra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> wool C. Carissanum<br />

Ra<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> boiled bricks<br />

Note: <strong>The</strong>y are taken to portend the death <strong>of</strong> Milo. <strong>The</strong>refore it could be that they were<br />

<strong>in</strong>stead omens. <strong>The</strong>y are however described as treated as prodigies, that is, related to the<br />

senate (relatum) and written down.<br />

48 Obs.65a<br />

Note: This is an omen story about Pompei, where several omens are mentioned as go<strong>in</strong>g<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st Pompei. Rasmussen counts them as prodigies (Rasmussen 2003: 110). <strong>The</strong>y have not<br />

been <strong>in</strong>cluded here.<br />

Pl<strong>in</strong>.Nat.2.92<br />

Fire <strong>in</strong> the sky <strong>in</strong> the west.<br />

Dio.42.26.1-2<br />

Bees <strong>in</strong> the temple <strong>of</strong> Hercules on the Capitol Roma<br />

47 Dio.42.26.1-2<br />

Earthquake<br />

Lightn<strong>in</strong>g strikes, among other th<strong>in</strong>gs the temple <strong>of</strong> Fortuna Publica Roma<br />

272

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