Augur

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Related Terms • Augurium • Extispicium • Haruspicy

Definition: An augur was originally a priest who used birds for divination. The art of the augur was called ius augurium (augury) or auspicium. Plutarch says the augur was originally called an auspex.

The job of the augur was to interpret divine will by means of signs in nature and to predict the future by means of interpreting animal entrails.

Romulus, king and also an augur, (or Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome) established an initial college of three augurs. The collegium of augurs increased in number to 9 by 300 B.C. and to 15 under Sulla, c. 81 B.C. The augurs handed down the rules of their art to new members whom they elected for life. In 103 B.C. the augurs had their right to self-elect taken away.

The importance of the augur was that it was his job to determine whether the gods approved military and political acts. He also marked sacred areas (templa).

Also Known As: auspex

Related Resources:

Curia - The House of the Roman Senate

Marcellus
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Lesley and Roy Adkins: "Dictionary of Roman Religion"

Elsewhere on the Web:

Augur, Augurium

Suda On-line

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