Cock-a-Doodle-DOOM: the Sacred Chickens of Ancient Rome and the risks of ignoring them

In ancient Rome, chickens were not just a common farm animal; they were sacred creatures that played an essential role in the city's religious practices.

The Sacred Chickens of Rome, also known as the Pullarius, were believed to have the power of predicting the future and were consulted before any significant event or decision.

The Sacred Chickens lived in a special coop, known as the Pullarium, located in the Forum Romanum.

The Pullarius, a priest responsible for the chickens' care, would feed them a special diet and examine their behavior to determine their predictions.

The chickens were believed to have two types of behavior: eating greedily, which was seen as a positive omen, and refusing to eat, which was seen as a negative omen.

In Ancient Rome, augury was a religious practice that involved the interpretation of omens and signs from the gods.

It was believed that the gods communicated their will through various signs, such as the behavior of birds, the direction of the wind, the appearance of lightning, and the entrails of sacrificial animals.

The practice of using birds to predict the future goes back to the founding of Rome. According to legend, Romulus and Remus argued over where to build the city of Rome, so they sought the will of the gods by watching the birds.

The two brothers chose different hills as the place to found the city and waited for an obvious sign. Remus saw six birds, fly by, which made him believe he was right. However, Romulus then claimed to have seen twelve birds, which clearly trumped his brother.

As a result, Romulus won the contest and the new city was named after him: Rome.

The practice of augury was highly respected in Roman society, and it was an important tool for political and military decision-making.

Before major political decisions or military campaigns, Roman officials and generals would often consult with priests known as augurs, who were trained in the interpretation of these signs.

The augurs would perform various rituals to determine the will of the gods, such as observing the flight patterns of birds, examining the entrails of sacrificial animals, and analyzing the patterns of thunder and lightning.

Based on their observations, the augurs would then provide their interpretation of the signs and advise the decision-makers on the best course of action.

Augury was seen as an important way to ensure the favor of the gods and to avoid disastrous consequences. However, it was also recognized that the interpretation of signs was not always clear, and different interpretations could lead to conflicting advice.

As a result, the practice of augury was often accompanied by debate and discussion, with different parties arguing for their preferred interpretation of the signs.

The most famous event in Roman history involving the Sacred Chickens occurred during the First Punic War, involving the Roman commander, Publius Claudius Pulcher.

Pulcher was a Roman politician and military leader, who was one of the consuls. In 249 BC, during the First Punic War against Carthage, Pulcher was in command of the Roman fleet and was preparing to engage the Carthaginians in a naval battle near Drepana, on the coast of Sicily.

Before the battle, Pulcher consulted the Sacred Chickens to determine the outcome.

However, when the chickens refused to eat, Pulcher famously remarked, "If they will not eat, let them drink!" and ordered the chickens to be thrown overboard.

Pulcher then proceeded with the battle, which ended in a disastrous defeat for the Roman fleet, with over 90% of the ships lost and thousands of Roman soldiers killed or captured.

Pulcher's disregard for the Sacred Chickens' predictions was seen as a grave sacrilege and was met with outrage by the Roman people. Pulcher was immediately relieved of his command and was brought to trial on charges of religious misconduct.

Pulcher defended himself by claiming that the chickens were not eating due to their own superstition and that he had no reason to believe their predictions were accurate. However, the court found him guilty, and he was forced to pay a fine.

The Sacred Chickens of Rome may seem like a peculiar footnote in ancient history, but their importance in Roman society cannot be understated.

These feathered oracles were consulted by emperors, generals, and politicians alike, and their predictions could lead to both great victories and catastrophic failures. However, one can't help but wonder how many chickens were sacrificed in the name of divination, and whether their predictions were worth the price.

But regardless of their accuracy, the Sacred Chickens remain a fascinating and quirky aspect of ancient Roman culture, reminding us that even the humblest creatures can play a pivotal role in shaping human history.