| Divination a universal practice: its relation to magic. Want of a
comprehensive treatment of it. Its object at Rome: to assure
oneself of the pax deorum; but it was the most futile method
used. Private divination; limited and discouraged by the State,
except in the form of family auspicia. Public divination;
auspicia needed in all State operations; close connection with
imperium. The augurs were skilled advisers of the magistrates,
but could not themselves take the auspices. Probable result of
this: Rome escaped subjection to a hierarchy. Augurs and
auspicia become politically important, but cease to belong to
religion. State divination a clog on political progress. Sinister
influence on Rome of Etruscan divination; history of the haruspices
| [292]-313 |