Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

InV Ix/:N'AT i O: D IVINATI'O. 41F
all kinids' of nlatieral phenomena, oediitary'as r'Well tlh'f3otOaouaVti'Ea, or divination'by Writing ore's
is extraordinary, and dreams. own name on herbs and leaves, which wore then
The interpretation of signs of the first class exposed to the wind, &c.
(1eposlaYreia or Iepooicomrfa, Itarusepicium or ars Of greater importance than the appearance of aniharuspicina), was, according to Aeschylus (Proineth. mals, at least to the Greeks, were the phenomena
492, &c.), the invention of Prometheus. It seems in the heavens, particularly during any public
to have been most cultivated by the Etruscans, transaction. They were not only observed and
among whom it was raised into a complete science, interpreted by private individuals in their own
and from whom it passed to the Romans. Sacri- affairs, but by the public magistrates. The Spartan
fices were either offered for the special purpose of ephors, as we learn from Plutarch (Agesil. 11),
consulting the gods, or in the ordinary way; but made regular observations in the heavens every
in both cases the signs were observed, aid when ninth year. during the night; and the family of
they were propitious, the sacrifice was said IcaAAte- the Pythaistae, of Athens, made similar observperv. The principal points that were generally ob- ations every year before the theoris set sail for
served were, 1. The manner in which the victim Delos. (Miiller, Dorians, ii. 2. ~ 14.) Among
approached to the altar, whether uttering a sound the unlucky phenomena in the heavens (8lo-7rleEsa,
or not; the former was considered a favourable si#ya, or postenta) were thunder and lightning
omen in the sacrifice at the Panioniuml. (Strab. (Aristoph. Eccles. 793; Eustath. ad Hom. Od. xx.
viii. p.' 384; compare Paus. iv. 32. ~ 3.) 2. The 104), an eclipse of the sun or moon (Thucyd. vii.
nature of the intestines with respect to their colour 50), earthquakes (Xen. Helles. iv. 7. ~ 4), rain of
and smoothness (Aeschyl. Psroneth. 493, &c.; blood, stones, milk, &c. (Hoem. II. xi. 53, &c.; Cic.
Eurip. Elect. 833); the liver and bile were of De Divinat. i. 43). Any one of these signs was
particular importance. [CAPUT EXTORUMa.] 3. sufficient at Athens, as well as at Rome, to break
The nature of the flame which consumed the up the assembly of the people. (SchiJmann, De
sacrifice (see Valckenaer, ad Eurip. Pioen. 1261); Com6it. Ath. p. 146. &c. transl.) In common life,
hence the words, 7rupoeuavrTia, E lrupa ordlla~'a, things apparently of no importance, when occurring
~poyn77r a1iua1ra. That the smoke rising from at a critical moment, were thought by the ancients
the altar, the libation, and various other things to be signs sent by the gods, from which conclusions
offered to the gods, were likewise considered might be drawn respecting the future. Among these
as a means through which the will of the gods common occurrences we may mention sneezing
might be learned, is'clear from the names, (Hem. Ol. xvii. 561, with the note of Eustath.;
iKa7rJoyavreLa, AXasofeavretsa, Icp0to/ta"rTEa, and Xen. A2ab. iii. 2. ~ 9; Plut. 7helszist. 13; Ovid,
others. Especial care was also taken during a Heroid. 19, 151; Propart. ii. 2. 33), twinkling
sacrifice, that no inauspicious or frivolous words of the eyes (Tlleocrit. iii. 37; Plaut. Pseud. i. 2.
were uttered by any of the bystanders: hence the 105; compare Wiistemann, ad Theocrit.. c.),
admonitions of the priests, Evibp1pc7irE and Ebit7ufa, tinkling of the ears, and numberless other things
or on-ya'rE, d-w7irare,Jftvete linguis, and others; for which we cannot here enumerate. Soine of them
improper expressions were not only thought to pol- have retained their significance with the superlate and profane the sacred act, but to be unlucky stitious multitude down to the present day.
omens (buvroplqsia, icXpsves, epfuat, pcvaft or The art of interpreting dreams (ioetpo7roXsa),.ouoai, Pind. 01. vi. 112; Hom. II. ii. 41). which had probably been introduced into Europe
The art of interpreting signs of the second class from Asia, where it is still a universal practice,
was called ololwrvroT7i, augarium or auspicizuno. It seems in the Homeric age to have been held in
was, like the former, common to Greeks and Ro- high esteem; for dreams were said to be sent by
mans, but was never developed into so complete Zeus. (Hom. II. i. 63, ii. init., Od. iv. 841, xix.
a system by the former as by the latter; nor did it 457.) In subsequent times, that class of diviners
ever attain the same degree of importance in Greece who occupied themselves with the interpretation of
as it did at Rome. [AuGuRvn. The Greeks, dreams, seems to have been very numerous and
when observing the flight of birds, turned their popular; but they never enjoyed any protection
face towards the north, ahd then a bird appearing from the states and were only resorted to by prito the right (east), especially an eagle, a heron, or vate individuals. Some persons are said to have
a falcon, was a favourable sign (Hom. M/. xiv. gained their livelihood by this profession. (Plut.
274, xxiv. 310, Od. xv. 524); while birds ap- Aristid. 27.) Respecting the oracles which were
pearing to the left (west) were considered as un- obtained by passing a night and dreaming in a
lucky signs. (Hom. II. xii. 201, 230; Festus, temple, see ORAcutUM.
3. v. Sinistrae Aves.) Sometimes the mere appear- For further information concerning the art of
ance of a bird was thought sufficient: thus the divination in general, see Cicero's work, De DiviAthenians always considered the appearance of an natione. The f/amVtKc of the Greeks is treated of
owl as a lucky sign; hence the proverb,?yXab at some length by Wachsmuth (Hellen. Altesrts.
i'sre-rat, G" the owl is out," i. e. we have good luck. ii.. 2. p. 259, &c., vol. ii. p. 5855 2d edit.) ComOther animals appearing unexpectedly, especially pare Thirlwall's lIist. of Greece, i. p. 206, &c.
to travellers on their road (i&dta r6e~oXa), were The word divinatio was used in a particular
also thought ominous; and at Athens it was con- manner by the Romans as a law-ternj which residered a very unlucky omen, when a weasel ap- quires some explanation. If in any case two or
peared during the assembly of the people. (Aristoph. more accusers came forward against one and the
Eccles. 793.) Superstitions of this kind are still same individual, it was, as the phrase ran, decided
met with in several European countries. Various by dizinatio, who should be the chief or real acother means were used to ascertain the will of the cuser, whom the others then joined as subscripgods, such as the 0-l&ppoaMY'rda, or divination by tores; i. e. by putting their names to the charge
placing straws on red hot iron; the!oXug.8taE'rda, brought against the offender. This transaction, by
by observing the figutres which inelted lead formed; which one of several accusers was selected to conE1