Roman Superstitions Out of numina and Etruscan nightmares

Roman Superstitions • Out of numina and Etruscan nightmares • Lamia – boogeywoman ate children • Lemures – Etruscan ghosts of the dead • Werewolves - verspilles

Bad Omens • Stumbling on threshold leaving domus or crossing with left (sinister) foot • Mentioning fire at a banquet • Cock crow during party • Black cat entering domus • Snakes falling from roof into yard • Anything unnatural (e. g. deformed births/sweating statues) • Odd number at a party and all fall silent • Bearded woman

• Time Specific – e. g. marriage on specific days • Place Specific – e. g. cutting hair or nails at sea or food falling from hand to floor at banquet • Climate Specific – e. g. lightening flashes Means of Averting Evil: whistle at lightening, charms & spells (e. g. bulla), burning fallen food to household gods, lick finger and pass behind ear to free of bad thoughts

Big Leagues • Witches – Vergil says they can draw the moon from the sky • Carmina – spells, usually love or vengence • Protection from spells: wolf’s head or wolf’s beard nailed to door

Curses - Defixio • Dedication of enemy to gods of underworld • Curse scratched onto lead tablet and nailed to tomb, well, cave, etc. • Defixiones found as far as Africa, Britain, and Germany, as well as in Italy SOCIAL SAFETY VALVE

Religious matters • Augury – especially birds & other omens ‘sacred chickens’ with army • Hepatoscopy – Extispicy – organs of sacrificial victims, especially liver