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The dissemination of divination in roman republican times

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Doors to the temple <strong>of</strong> Fortuna opened by themselves<br />

Blood flowed from a bakery to another temple <strong>of</strong> Fortuna<br />

Child born with left hand attached to his head<br />

46 Obs.66<br />

10 legions <strong>of</strong> Pompei’s son’s flew <strong>in</strong>to the sky<br />

Note: This is not mentioned <strong>in</strong> the parallel passage <strong>in</strong> Dio (Dio.43.2). It is therefore taken as<br />

an omen story.<br />

Dio.43.2.1<br />

Wolves <strong>in</strong> the city<br />

Pig born resembl<strong>in</strong>g an elephant<br />

44 Obs.67<br />

Caesar did not f<strong>in</strong>d a heart <strong>in</strong> the entrails <strong>of</strong> his sacrificial victim<br />

His wife had a bad dream<br />

<strong>The</strong> doors to his room opened by themselves<br />

Note: these are all omens to Caesar.<br />

Obs.68, Pl<strong>in</strong>.Nat.2.98., Dio.45.17.2-8<br />

Signs about Augustus as heir to Caesar*<br />

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

Earthquake<br />

Many lightn<strong>in</strong>g strikes<br />

Statue fell because <strong>of</strong> tornado<br />

Tablets fell from the temple <strong>of</strong> Fides<br />

Door destroyed <strong>in</strong> the temple <strong>of</strong> Ops<br />

Trees uprooted<br />

For seven days a star shone brightly<br />

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

Three suns<br />

Letters <strong>in</strong> Anthony’s and Dollabella’s names fell out <strong>in</strong> the temple <strong>of</strong> Castor*<br />

Howl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> wolves <strong>in</strong> front <strong>of</strong> Lepidus’ house *<br />

School <strong>of</strong> fish stranded on land Ostia<br />

Po flooded, when retracted snakes left Po<br />

* <strong>The</strong>se are not taken as prodigies, but as omens or a later <strong>in</strong>terpellations caused by Augustan<br />

propaganda. <strong>The</strong>y can also be found <strong>in</strong> Pl<strong>in</strong>.Nat.2.98.<br />

Note: <strong>The</strong> text is one great mixture <strong>of</strong> omens and prodigies. In general it is difficult to<br />

separate the prodigies from the omens, especially s<strong>in</strong>ce the later Augustan history writ<strong>in</strong>g, on<br />

which we are entirely dependent, has plenty <strong>of</strong> reason to twist the exposition towards giv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

273

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