Religion et vie politique sous la République romaine. L’exemple de la divination publique

As fellow citizens of the Romans, the gods had to be associated with decision-making concerning the city : this was the purpose of magistrates’ auspices and, more broadly, of augural divination. As eminently superior citizens, like powerful “patrons”, the gods had to be honored by their Roman “clien...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPallas (Toulouse, France) Vol. 111; no. 111; pp. 41 - 63
Main Author Berthelet, Yann
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
French
Published Presses universitaires du Midi 07.11.2019
Subjects
auspices
divination
extispicin
prodigies
Roman Republic
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Summary:As fellow citizens of the Romans, the gods had to be associated with decision-making concerning the city : this was the purpose of magistrates’ auspices and, more broadly, of augural divination. As eminently superior citizens, like powerful “patrons”, the gods had to be honored by their Roman “clients” : this was the purpose of sacrifices – which always implied an extispicin, a divinatory prerequisite indispensable to any civic commensality. Finally, because their power far exceeded that of mere mortals, the gods of Rome could also express their anger at the occasion of prodigies : by seeking to restore harmonious relations between the Romans and their divine fellow citizens (pax deum), the expiation of prodigies participated at the same time in strengthening political stability and reaffirming Roman identity and civic cohesion.
ISSN:0031-0387
2272-7639
DOI:10.4000/pallas.18236