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THE SACRED CHICKENS (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 41 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Explanation: The Romans were quite fond of omens - augury. Good omens, bad omens, all determining whether to go ahead with a plan or pull back. Even the mythical founding of the city was based on an omen - how many birds were seen by Romulus.

One method of omen-taking was by seeing if sacred chickens would eat at the moment - if they would eat eagerly, it was a good omen; it they would not, it was a bad omen. One irate Roman admiral is said to have tossed the chickens into the ocean after finding they would not eat that day, saying "If they will not eat, let them drink!"

He lost the ensuing battle and was shamed and removed from command by the Senate when he returned.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

NTA, the chicken sank proving it was a witch.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

I thought the way that worked was that the righteous or innocent would sink, and the witches would use magic to save themselves

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think these sacred chickens ate a lot

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Big chonk. Every day the priest is trying to get him to give a good omen.