RomanRepublican Augury
FreedomandControl
LINDSAYG.DRIEDIGER-MURPHY
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Preface
Thisbookisarevised,expanded,andupdatedversionofmyDPhil thesis(2007â11).Iwouldliketothankallthosewhomadeitpossible tobringthemonographtofruition,especiallymygraduatesupervisors,EdBispham,AnnaClark,andSimonPrice.Thecommentsof myexaminersandassessors,NeilMcLynn,JohnNorth,Jonathan Prag,andNicholasPurcell,weretremendouslyhelpful.JohnNorth, NicholasPurcell,andananonymouspeer-reviewerforOUPpainstakinglyreadthemanuscriptindraftandimproveditimmeasurably. Anyerrorsthatremainareofcoursemyown.
Manycolleaguesofferedhelp,advice,andencouragementalong theway,includingBorisChrubasik,EstherEidinow,MichaelFlower, AndrewGregory,AndrewLintott,WolfgangdeMelo,TeresaMorgan, LuciaNixon,ScottNoegel,ChristopherPelling,CatherineSteel, PeterToohey,thescholarsoftheFestusLexiconProjectandofthe FragmentsoftheRomanRepublicanOrators,andmanyotherpatient colleaguesandfriendsinOxford,Nottingham,andCalgary.Papers relatingtothisprojectwerepresentedatseminarsorconferencesin AnnArbor,Calgary,Cambridge,Kavala,Leeds,London,Oxford, Princeton,andQuebecCity,andIamgratefultotheorganizersand participantsattheseeventsfortheirstimulatingfeedback.
ThisresearchwassupportedbytheSocialSciencesandHumanities ResearchCouncilofCanada,aswellasfundingfromtheFondation HardtpourlâĂ©tudedelâantiquitĂ©classiqueandtheUniversityof Calgary.Fundingformygraduateworkwasalsoprovidedbythe GovernmentofAlberta,theMacKenzieKingScholarshipTrust, theJ.ArmandBombardierInternationalistFellowship,University College,Oxford,andtheFacultyofClassics(UniversityofOxford), toallofwhichIamdeeplygrateful.IthanktheDepartmentof ClassicsandReligionandtheFacultyofArtsattheUniversity ofCalgaryforacrucialsabbaticalin2018.Thestaffatthelibraries oftheBodleianandSacklerinOxford,theFondationHardtin Geneva,theInstituteofClassicalStudiesinLondon,theUniversity ofNottingham,andtheTaylorFamilyDigitalLibraryinCalgary workedtirelesslyto ïŹndtheresourcesIneeded.Iwouldalsoliketo thankthestaffatOxfordUniversityPress,includingCharlotte
Loveridge,GeorginaLeighton,andtheproductionteam,especially KavyaRamuandMalcolmTodd,foralltheirhelpandcare.My researchassistant,KathrineBertram,wasindefatigableingathering booksandarticles,checkingthebibliography,andhelpingtocompile theindices.
Finally,Iwouldliketothankallthosefamilymembersandfriends whohavebornewithmethroughoutthisprocess,especiallymy parents,mysisterRoxanneandbrother-in-lawJace,mycatMira (forchewingon,butnotdestroying,manybooks),andaboveallmy husbandWilliam:IreallydoloveyoumorethanIloveCicero.Lastly, allmythankstotheOnewithwhomnothingisimpossible: âTeachme todoyourwill,foryouaremyGod;mayyourgoodSpiritleadmeon levelground.â
1.DoAsISay,NotAsIDo?ReportversusReality inAugury51
1.2.Principle1intheHighandLateEmpire:Comments onSigniïŹcation
1.3.Principle1intheHighandLateEmpire:Claimsthat AuguralRulesGaveHumanstheFreedomto AcceptorRejectSigns
1.4.Principle1intheMiddle(andLate)Republic:Claims thatHumanAwarenessofSignsDeterminedtheirValidity
1.5.Principle2intheEarlyPrincipate:TheClaimthatAugural RulesGaveHumansFreedomto âCreateâ Signsby ReportingThem
1.6.Principle2intheLateRepublic:TheClaimthatHumans ContrivedAuspicationsoastoReceiveFavourableSigns andAvoidReceivingUnfavourableOnes
2.ConvenienceorConversation?Why âWatchingtheSkyâ WasMorethanWishfulThinking127
2.3.DidSky-WatchingInvariablyProduceSigns?
2.4.WasSky-WatchingTechnicallySufïŹcienttoProhibit Assemblies?
2.5.PossibleObjections:TheTimingof ServaredeCaelo
2.6.ButWouldItActuallyWork?
3.OutofControl?TheEffectsofAuguryonRoman PublicLife161
3.1.Introduction
3.2.Motives,Part1:Cicero,the AuguriumSalutis,and theLimitsofourKnowledge
3.3.Motives,Part2:TwoMethodologicalProblemsandTwo AbdicatingConsuls
3.4.Motives,Part3:TheConsul,hisColleague,aTribune,and RomanRespectforAugury
3.5.TheDynamicsofStateDivination
3.6.ButDidItReallyMatter?
3.7.Conclusion:WhenSignsSaidNo
TextsandAbbreviations
Abbreviationsofancientauthorsandworks,andofstandardreference works,arethoseofthe OxfordClassicalDictionary.Abbreviationsofjournals arethoseof LâAnnĂ©ephilologique. Exceptionsandotherabbreviationsareas follows:
August. Doct.christ.Augustine, DeDoctrinachristiana
Cic. Rab.Perd.Cicero, ProRabirioPerduellionisReo
Donat. ad Ter. Adelph.Donatus, CommentaryonTerenceâsAdelphoe Obseq.JuliusObsequens, LiberProdigiorum
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App. Hann.
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Viereck,P.,Roos,A.G.,andGabba,E.(1962), AppianiHistoriaRomanaI (Leipzig: Teubner).
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ShackletonBailey,D.R.(1999), Ciceroâ s LetterstoAtticus,4vols.(LoebClassical Library)(Cambridge,MA:Harvard UniversityPress).Referencesusethe âvulgateâ numbering,followedbyShackletonBaileyâ s numbering(labelledSB)insquarebrackets.
Maslowski,T.(2003), M.TulliCiceronis Scriptaquaemanseruntomnia, fasc.17: OrationesinL.Catilinamquattuor (Munich andLeipzig:K.G.Saur).
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Maslowski,T.(1981), M.TulliCiceronis Scriptaquaemanseruntomnia,fasc.21: OrationescumSenatuiGratiasEgit,Cum PopuloGratiasEgit,DeDomoSua,De HaruspicumResponsis (Stuttgart:Teubner).
ShackletonBailey,D.R.(2001), Cicero:Lettersto Friends (EpistulaeadFamiliares),3vols.(Loeb ClassicalLibrary)(Cambridge,MA:Harvard UniversityPress).Referencesusethe âvulgateâ numbering,followedbyShackletonBaileyâ s numbering(labelledSB)insquarebrackets.
Maslowski,T.(1981), M.TulliCiceronis Scriptaquaemanseruntomnia,fasc.21: OrationescumSenatuiGratiasEgit,Cum PopuloGratiasEgit,DeDomoSua,De HaruspicumResponsis (Stuttgart:Teubner).
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Powell,J.G.F.(2006), M.TulliCiceronis:Dere publica,Delegibus,CatoMaiorDesenectute, LaeliusDeamicitia (OxfordClassicalTexts) (Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress).
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ShackletonBailey,D.R.(1985), Cicero: Philippics (ChapelHillandLondon: UniversityofNorthCarolinaPress).
Nisbet,R.G.M.(1961), M.TulliCiceronisin L.CalpurniumPisonemoratio (Oxford: ClarendonPress).Reprinted1975.
Maslowski,T.(2007), M.TulliusCicero,fasc. 24: OratiodeProvinciisConsularibus,Oratio ProL.CornelioBalbo (Teubner)(Berlinand NewYork:DeGruyter).
ShackletonBailey,D.R.(2002), Lettersto QuintusandBrutus.LetterFragments.Letter toOctavian.Invectives.Handbookof Electioneering (LoebClassicalLibrary) (Cambridge,MA:HarvardUniversityPress). Referencesusethe âvulgateâ numbering, followedbyShackletonBaileyâsnumbering (labelledSB)insquarebrackets.
Powell,J.G.F.(2006), M.TulliCiceronis:Dere publica,Delegibus,CatoMaiorDesenectute, LaeliusDeamicitia (OxfordClassicalTexts) (Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress).
Maslowski,T.(1986), M.TulliusCicero,fasc. 22: OratioProP.Sestio (Leipzig:Teubner).
Maslowski,T.(1995), M.TulliCiceronis Scriptaquaemanseruntomnia,fasc.23: OrationesInP.VatiniumTestem,Pro M.Caelio (StuttgartandLeipzig:Teubner).
Dion.Hal. Ant.Rom. Book1:Fromentin,V.(1998), Denys dâHalicarnasse.AntiquitĂ©sromaines. IntroductiongĂ©nĂ©rale,LivreI (BudĂ©)(Paris: LesBellesLettres).Book3:Sautel,J.-H.(1999),
DenysdâHalicarnasse.AntiquitĂ©sromaines, LivreIII (BudĂ©)(Paris:LesBellesLettres). Books2,4,5,8,10:Jacoby,K.(1885â1905), DionysiHalicarnasensisantiquitatum Romanarumquaesupersunt (Leipzig: Teubner).Reprinted1967.
Donat. ad Ter. Adelph. Wessner,P.(1966), AeliDonatiCommentum Terenti,vol.2(Stuttgart:Teubner).
FestusLindsay,W.M.andMountford,J.F.(1930), GlossariaLatina,vol.4: Placidus,Festus (Paris: LesBellesLettres).Readingsarefromthis edition.References(labelledL)aretopage numbersinthemorecommonlycitededition ofLindsay,W.M.(1913), SextiPompeiFesti DeverborumsigniïŹcatuquaesupersuntcum Pauliepitome (Leipzig:Teubner),followedby pagenumbersinLindsayandMountford (labelledLM)insquarebrackets.
Gell.Marshall,P.K.(1990), A.GelliiNoctesAtticae, 2vols.(OxfordClassicalTexts)(Oxford: ClarendonPress).
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Books31â40:Briscoe,J.(1991), TitiLiviAb urbeconditaLibriXXXIâXL,2vols.(Stuttgart: Teubner).
Books41â5:Briscoe,J.(1986), TitiLiviAburbe conditaLibriXLIâXLV,vol.2(Stuttgart: Teubner).
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Rossbach,O.(1959), T.LiviAburbecondita Libri.Periochaeomniumlibrorum,Fragmenta Oxyrhynchireperta,IuliiObsequentis ProdigiorumLiber (Stuttgart:Teubner). Reprintof1910edition(Leipzig).
Kaster,R.A.(2011), MacrobiiAmbrosii TheodosiiSaturnalia (OxfordClassicalTexts) (Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress).
Obseq.Rossbach,O.(1959), T.LiviAburbecondita Libri.Periochaeomniumlibrorum,Fragmenta Oxyrhynchireperta,IuliiObsequentis ProdigiorumLiber (Stuttgart:Teubner). Reprintof1910edition(Leipzig).
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Plut. Mor. (Quaest.Rom.)NachstÀdt,W.,Sieveking,W.,andTitchener,J. (1971), Plutarchus:Moralia,vol.2,second edition(Leipzig:Teubner).Referencesusethe pagenumbersoftheFrankfurteditionof Stephanus(1599).
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Ziegler,K.(1964â73), PlutarchiVitae Parallelae,3vols.,secondâfourtheditions (Leipzig:Teubner);andGĂ€rtner,H.(2000), Plutarchus:VitaeParallelae,vol.1,fasc.1, ïŹfth edition(MunichandLeipzig:K.G.Saur). IhaveusedZieglerâGĂ€rtnerforthetext,but retainthemorecommonchapterand subdivisionnumberingoftheLoebeditionby Perrin,B.(1914â26), Plutarch:Lives (Loeb ClassicalLibrary)(Cambridge,MAand London:HarvardUniversityPress).
Polyb.Book3:deFoucault,J.andFoulon,E.(2004), Polybe:Histoires,LivreIII (Budé)(Paris:Les BellesLettres).
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Book10:Foulon,E.andWeil,R.(1990), Polybe:Histoires.LivreXetLivreXI (Budé) (Paris:LesBellesLettres).Divergentreadings
inWalbank,F.W.(1957â79), AHistorical CommentaryonPolybius (Oxford:Clarendon Press)andintherevisedLoebeditionsby W.R.Paton,F.W.Walbank,C.Habicht,and D.Olson(2010â12,LoebClassicalLibrary) (Cambridge,MA:HarvardUniversityPress) areindicatedasrelevantinthenotes.
Schol.Bob.Stangl,Th.(1964), Ciceronisorationum scholiastae.Asconius,scholiaBobiensia, scholiaPseudasconiiSangallensia,scholia CluniacensiaetrecentioraAmbrosianaac Vaticana,scholiaLugdunensiasive GronovianaeteorumexcerptaLugdunensia, 2vols.(Hildesheim:G.Olms).Reprintof Stanglâs1912edition(Vienna:F.Tempsky; Leipzig:G.Freytag).
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Studies)(OxfordandNewYork:Oxford UniversityPress).
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Conte,G.B.(2005), P.VergiliusMaroAeneis (Teubner)(BerlinandNewYork:De Gruyter).
Zonar.Dindorf,L.(1868â70), IoannisZonarae EpitomeHistoriarum (Leipzig:Teubner). Referencesaregivenusingthestandardbook andchapterdivisions,followed(inbrackets) byvolumeandpagenumberinDindorf.For easeofreference,Ialsoprovide(insquare brackets)thevolumenumber,pagenumber, andDiobooknumberofeachpassagein BoissevainâseditionofDio.
OthereditionsusedareidentiïŹedinthenotesasneeded.Wherenoeditionis given,Ihaveusedthe PackardHumanitiesInstitute(PHI) forLatintextsand the TLG forancientGreektexts.Translationsaremyown,unlessotherwise noted,thoughtheyhavebeneïŹttedfromconsultationofmanypublished translations.InLatin,Iprintconsonantaluas â v â,andhavecapitalizedthe beginningsofsentences.
Introduction
0.1.OFGODSANDMEN
FortheRomans,thegodJupiterwasthe âall-powerfulfatherâ (pater omnipotens),the âKingofGodsandMen,whoseawfulhand/dispersesthunderontheseasandland,/disposingallwithabsolute commandâ (asDrydensomemorablytranslatedVenusâ invocationof thegodâspowerinVergilâ s Aeneid).1 Hewasthe âgreatestandbestâ of alldivinepowers(JupiterOptimusMaximus,ashewascalledonthe CapitolineHillandininscriptionsthroughouttheEmpire).Inhis manifestationsintheRomanpast,itwashewhohadblessedthe foundingofthecitybyRomulus,hewhoasStayerofFlighthad preservedthecityfromdestruction,hewhoasFeretriusgaveRoman commandersthestrengthtokillrivalleadersinbattle.Itwastohim thattheconsuls,Romeâshighestregularmagistrates,sworetheiroath ofofïŹce,andatthefeetofhisimageintheCapitolinetemplethatthe triumphator,havingachievedthegreatestmilitarygloryofhislife, offeredthesymbolsofhisvictory.2
Jupiterwasalsothesourceofoneofthemostimportantformsof public,state-mandateddivinationatRome:3 augury,thesolicitation,
1 Verg. Aen. 1.229â30: Oquireshominumquedeumque/aeternisregisimperiiset fulmineterres.
2 ForoverviewsoftheseattributesofJupiter,seeWissowa1912:113â29;Koch 1937;DumĂ©zil1977:153â82;Fears1981;Ziolkowski1992:79â94;Scheidand Montremy2008.
3 Cic. Div. 2.72,78;Cic. Leg. 2.20;Livy1.12.4â7;Linderski1986a:2226andn.312, withreferences.TheDanielisScholiastâsclaimthat âinthebooksoftheaugursJunois saidtopresideovertheauspicesâ ([Iuno]inlibrisaugurumpraeessedicaturauspiciis: Serv.Dan. Aen.4.45)refersonlytomarriageauspices,notto auspiciapublica (Linderski1985:214n.36;Ziolkowski1993:217).
4 Introduction
graviusquamremsusceptamdirimi,siunusaugur âalio<die>â14 dixerit?
QuidmagniïŹcentiusquampossedecernereutmagistratuseabdicent consules?Quidreligiosiusquamcumpopulo,cumplebeagendiiusaut dareautnondare?Quidlegem,sinoniurerogataest,tollere ... ;nihil domi,nihilmilitiaepermagistratusgestumsineeorumauctoritateposse cuiquamprobari?
Themodernreadersnortsderisively(andrightly)atCiceroâ sassurancethatheisnothererevellinginthepowerofthecollegetowhich hehimselfhad ïŹnallygainedalong-covetedadmission.Butthe powersheattributestotheaugursherewererealenough,evenifhe omitsorobscurestherolesofotherparticipantsintheaugury system.15 Whatwillcarryconvictionforeverymodernreaderis Ciceroâsfocusonthepowerthesystemgavetohumanbeings.For iftheaugurormagistratecouldpersuadeotherstoaccepthisclaim thatJupiterwasopposedtoagivenactionordecision,hecould inïŹuencethespeciïŹccoursesofaction,thepoliticalopinions,sometimeseventheentirecareersofhiscontemporaries.16
ModernstudiesoftheeffectsofauguryonRomanlifehavebeen quicktotakeCiceroâslead,understandingthisformofdivination primarilyinwhatanthropologistscall âfunctionalistâ terms,17 thatis, withparticularattentiontoitsroleinmaintainingandperpetuating Romansocialandpoliticalstructures.18 Likeotherformsofpublic divination,auguryissaidtohaveenhancedmagisterialandsenatorial
14 <die>issuppliedbyTurnebus;acceptedbyDyck2004:343;Powell2006:212.
15 Mostimportantlythesenate,whichhadthe ïŹnalsayindecidingwhetherto acceptarecommendationfromtheaugursonsomeofthesepoints(speciïŹcally,the invalidationoflawsandmagistracies).Ontheaccuracyofthispassage,seeSchmidt 1969:54â7;Powell2001;Dyck2004 adloc.Thisisonlyoneofnumerouspassages whereCiceroextolsthepowersoftheaugursandemphasizestheimportanceof augury:foralist,seeTucker1976.
16 InCiceroâsview,suchpowerswerenecessarytoblockthepassageofproposals dangeroustothestate:Cic. Div. 2.43;2.74.AsaLateRepublican optimas,Cicerotends tostresstheobstructivepowerofdivinationasacheckontheallegeddemagogueryof the populares. Thisisespeciallyevidentinhistreatmentofthe legesAeliaetFuïŹa, whichgovernedauspicationwithrespecttoassemblies:seeCh.2,nn.27,33.
17 Forhistoriographicaloverviewsoffunctionalisttheories,andsubsequentcriticismsofthem,seeHolmwood2005;Bell2009:esp.23â60.Foranoverviewof anthropologicalapproachestodivination,seeBeerden2013:ch.3.
18 Adifferentapproachhasbeentoconcentrateontheplaceoftheauspicesin deïŹning,structuring,andcircumscribingthepreciseconstitutionalpowersofmagistrates:recentandlearnedexponentsareVervaet2014;Drogula2015;Berthelet2015; paperscollectedinBertheletandVervaet2015.AlthoughIwillengagewithsuch issuesasrelevant,theyarenotmyfocushere.
authority;tohavecalmedpanicandvalidateddecisionstakenby magistratesandsenate;tohaveenforcedmagisterialsubmissionto thesenateandpriestlybodies;tohavehelpedRomanstocopewith situationsofuncertaintyandhelplessness;andtohavecreateddelay inordertobuy âbreathingspaceâ forcalmerandmorereasoned discussionand/ortheapplicationof â peerpressure â . 19 Itisseen aboveallasatooloftheelite,employedbythepoliticalauthorities tobolstertheirpoweroverthelowerorders,bythesenatemajorityto compelindividualpoliticiansâ adherencetoanemergingconsensus, orbytheindividualmagistrateoraugurtoalterthebehaviourofhis rivalsandopponents.20
Yetthereisoneimportantdifferencebetweentheancientand modernapproacheswehavejustoutlined.ForCicero,thesocial andpoliticalpowerofaugurylayultimatelyinthefactthatthe augur(orthemagistrate)actedonbehalfofJupiter,astheonewho expressedhiswill.Inthecurrentconsensusviewofaugury,onthe otherhand,theseroleshavebeenreversed.Formanymodern scholars,itistheaugurorthemagistratewhoexpresseshisown willthroughaugury,andthegodwhothenactsonthemanâsbehalf. ThusinthewordsofJerzyLinderski,themostdistinguishedmodern
19 Afewexamples:Vernant1974:10(divinationmakesdecision-makingappear more âobjectiveâ);Liebeschuetz1979:8ff.;Wardman1982:20,45;Scheid1985b:46 (augurylegitimatedpublicdecisions);Gordon1990a:192â3(religionasa âveilâ concealingthe âreal-worldforcesâ [i.e.actionsoftheelite]thattrulyshapedevents); North1990b:62â5(divinationcouldvalidatepublicdecisions,thoughnotehis criticismsofLiebeschuetzâsemphasisonthis);Dowden1992:35;Orlin1997:90â1 (consultationsoftheSibyllineBookscalmedpanicandvalidatedsenatedecisions, thoughherecognizesthatconcernaboutthegodscouldalsoplayarole);Rosenberger 1998;RĂŒpke2005a(divinationboughttimeforthenegotiationofeliteconsensus);RĂŒpke 2005b(vol.3):1443â4(divinationaspsychologicalaid,socialprocess,andsymbol), 1450(divinationas âWiderspruchsschleifen,dieinsgesamtdenEntscheidungsprozeĂin RichtungKonsensoptimierenâ);RĂŒpke2012b:47,81,213(religionasameansofsocial controlofaristocraticcompetition,awayofkeepingelitesinlinewithinthesociopoliticalsystem);Berthelet2015:145â6(augurs âremplissaientunefonctiondecontrĂŽle surlesmagistratsetlesassemblĂ©es ... assurantainsiunĂ©quilibreentrelâauctoritas du SĂ©nat,dâunepart,la potestas desmagistrats,dâautrepartâ),232.The âcontrolofhelplessness â theoryisalsoprominentinstudiesofGreekdivination,e.g.Eidinow2007;Flower 2008:74ff.,243â4(divinationâ s âprimaryfunction isitsabilitytohelpindividualsand groupsmakedecisionsthatareparticularlydifïŹcult,stressful,contentious,orconsequentialâ).ItsapplicabilitytoRomeisquestionedbyNorth1990b:62â4.
20 IntherecentandpromisinglytitledFranco-Germanproject âDivinationet dĂ©cisionâ,forexample,thepossibilitythattheresultsofdivinationmightclashwith theinterestsoftheeliteisallbutignored(CahiersduCentreGustaveGlotz 16[2005]; Revuedelâhistoiredesreligions 224.2[2007]).
scholarofaugury,thisformofdivinationreveals âanactive,boldbut carefulattitudeoftheRomanstowardsupernaturalpowersâ,suchthat âoneshoulddowhateveronecouldtoappeasethem,butalsowhenever itwaspossibleoneshouldtrytogaincontroloverthem ... Like everybodyelse,thedeityhadtoservethestate. ... InRomethe ïŹght forpoliticalpowerwasalsoa ïŹghtforcontroloverthegods.â21 Other inïŹuentialscholarsofRomanreligionexpresssimilarviews.ForJohn Scheid, âdanslesritesdivinatoires,lesmagistratsoulesprĂȘtresseulsont laparole,lesdieuxrestentsilencieuxâ,foritwasthepriestsandmagistrateswho âcreatedandannouncedâ thedivinewill,22 withtheresult that âthegodswereunderthecontrolofthemagistratesâ . 23 ForJörg RĂŒpke,Romandivinationcanbeunderstoodwithoutanymentionof thegodsatall:itissimply âuneformedecomportementcollectifqui,en situationdâincertitude,Ă lâaidederĂŽlessociauxdĂ©ïŹnispourlâinterprĂ©tationetlâĂ©laborationrituelledesignesstandardisĂ©s,rechercheet articulelâaccordetledĂ©saccordâ . 24 Andinspecializedstudiesofthe rulesofaugury,wereadagainandagainthatitwastheRoman magistrateoraugurwhowasthoughtto âcreateâ auguralreality, âbindingâ Jupitertoactualizewhateversignshumanbeingschosetoreport.25
21 Linderski1986a:2207.
22 Scheid1987â9:133â4: âilsontledroitdecrĂ©eretdâannoncerlavolontĂ©divineâ .
23 Scheid2003a:150;similarly1985b:52,55;1987â9:126â7(âlesrĂ©ponsesdes dieuxsontpratiquementtoujourspositives,ellesvonttoujoursdanslesensdemandĂ© etespĂ©rĂ©â).ThereisnotmuchdistanceherefromSzemler1971:124:Romans âexpectedthegodstofulïŹlltheirobligationstowardsthem,inmaintainingtheir goodwillandfendingoffhostilepowers.Thereligiousactsandceremonials,therefore,weredesignedintheorynotsomuchtopleasethegodsastobringaboutsome manifestationofthedivinitybyprofferingcertain formulae,thusexercisingcoercive forceuponthedivinitytoassistandcooperatewiththeindividualorcommunityâ . Scheid1985a:47marksadeparture,incallingdivinationa âdialogueâ,butScheidâ s subsequentpublicationsrejecttheterm.
24 RĂŒpke2012a:479.Cf.thesummaryofRomanpublicreligioninRĂŒpke2007b: 29: âthe sacrapublica shouldbeunderstoodnotonlyasreligiousceremonialorganized bytheĂ©litesoastoattachtheignorantmassestoitselfandensuretheirloyalty throughfearofthegods(aperceptionwidespreadeveninantiquity)butalsoasthat importantpartofthereligioussystemasawholethatwasperformedbythemembers oftheupper-class,infactasasystemofsigns,asamediumofinternalcommunication.And,atanyrateintheeyesoftheparticipants,itwasatthesametimeanefïŹcient meansoffulïŹllingthegodsâ expectationthattheirgiftsshouldbeproperlyrecognized.â Notehowtheperceptionsofparticipantscomelastinthisschema.
25 Detailedoverviewsofthebibliography,withfullreferences,willbeprovidedfor eachoftheseviewsineachchapterofthisbook;forthemodernnotionof âbindingâ Jupiter,seeespeciallyCh.1.
Likeotherformsofpublicdivination,auguryisthusseenprimarily assupportingRomanindividualsand/orgroupsinplansanddecisionsthattheyhadalreadyformed.Jupiter,inotherwords,wastotell thosewhoconsultedhimwhattheywantedtohear.26 Hewasnot reallyexpectedtoanswerback,ortointerfere.27 Andintheunlikely eventthathedidexpressanopinionwhichclashedwiththatofhis humanenquirers,hewasnottoexpectthattheywouldheedhis advice.Foronly âaquiteimprobablystrongbeliefwouldhaveproducedacquiescenceinadecisiononthesolegroundofitbeing supportedbydivinationâ , 28 and âfearofdivinedispleasurewasvery rarelyamotivewhenaRomandecidedonacourseofactionâ . 29 The Romanswereapracticalpeople,afterall;theywouldnothaveallowed adivinatorypracticesuchasaugurytodamagetheirrealinterests.30 Evenwhentheyperformeddivinatory(andother)ritualsincorrectly, theydidnotworrymuch:ritualremediestokeepthegodsonside wereconvenientandreadytohand.31 Itistruethattheyspentagreat
26 InScheidâswords,formsofstatedivinationsuchasauguryfunctionedprimarily asare-enactmentofatheologicalgiven,revealingoncemorethegodsâ supportof Rome(âLerĂŽledelâofïŹciantconsisteĂ mettreenĂ©vidence,Ă decouvrirdanslesfaitset dâannoncerlâassentimentdivin.Laconsultationdesdieuxnâestdonc,Ă proprement parlerpasundialogueentreunofïŹciantetundieu,maislamiseenscĂšnedramatique dâunedonnĂ©ethĂ©ologique.OnpourraitconsidĂ©rerlesritesdivinatoiresdesRomains commelâĂ©quivalentdâuntextesacrĂ©exposantquelepeupleromainĂ©taitlepeupledu dieu,lepeupledesdieuxâ [Scheid1987â9:132]).SimilarlyScheid2003a:112:divinatoryriteswere ânotsomuch ... anempiricalanddirectconsultationwiththegods, butrather therecitationofakindofprayerthatrevealedthegodsâ agreementwith whoeverwasconsultingthemâ.SimilarlyChampeaux2005:211: âLaplusancienne divinationromaineâ had âuneseuleprĂ©occupation â,whichwas âobtenir,pourlâaction humaine,lâassentiment,donclagarantie,desdieuxâ .
27 e.g.RĂŒpke2006:225: âIngeneral,theRomanswerenotexcessivelyeagerto contact[thegods].Thegodswerethoughtofasmembersofanorderedsocietywho hadobligationsandrights.Theyweretoreceivetheirshareand,forthemostpart, nomore. â
28 Liebeschuetz1979:29. 29 Liebeschuetz1979:3.
30 BibliographicoverviewandfullreferencesinCh.3.Perhapsthemostextreme formulationofthisviewisthatofGoodmanandHolladay1986:160: âthereisno certainevidencethattheobservanceofreligiousscrupleseveractedtoRomeâ s detrimentâ.Champion2017mountsoneassaultonthisview,reachingsomeconclusionssimilartomyown,althoughhisdiscussionofspeciïŹccasesisnotthorough enoughtobefullyconvincing,andIamnotfullypersuadedbyhisassumptionsabout Romanpsychology:cf.Introductionn.32andsection0.3.
31 Richardson2011:102: âAtRomereligiouserrorswereusuallyeasilyrepaired. Improperlyperformedritualscouldberepeated,andanyritesneededtoplacatethe godscouldbeperformedreadilyenough.â SoalsoBloch1984:100â1;Goodmanand Holladay1986:160â4.