Roman Superstitions

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

The Romans were a very superstitious race, here's a few of their many superstitions

 

- People placed importance on the random word or phrase.

 

- A place struck by lightning was considered sacred to Jupiter.

 

- One was advised to touch the earth when it thundered to prevent a lightning strike.

 

- Romans in the late Republic believed Civil Wars mirrored the Romulus and remus legend, and that Rome was forever cursed to repeat that struggle.

 

- Garlic was believed to make soldiers courageous.

 

- Romans believed cabbage prevented drunkenness, cured paralysis and protected against the plague.

 

- The days following the Kalends, the Nones and the Ides were considered unlucky days.

 

- 24 Sextilis, 5 October, 8 November--- dates when the gates to the underworld were supposed to open--- Roman armies did not engage in battle on these days.

 

- It was unlucky to wed in Maius, the month of the Lemuria, or in the first half of Junius, or on the Kalends, Nones or Ides of any month.

 

Thats just a few, anyone know of anymore?

[Divi Filius]

Fabius Maximus Cunctator leaving control to his magister equitum, Minucius, in order to attend to his religious duties in Rome, albeit with orders not to attack Hannibal. He did this even though he was aware of Minucius' disagreement to the Fabian tactic and for his wish to attack Hannibal...

[Nephele]

In his Naturalis Historia, Pliny the Elder wrote that if a woman with child passed over a viper, she was sure to miscarry. Also, if she ate a raven's egg or passed over it, she would miscarry. Pliny also believed that the stick that was used to rescue a frog from the mouth of a snake would help in facilitating delivery in childbirth.

 

-- Nephele

[rmoraes]

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[Klingan]

Pliny the Elder mention in his Natural History (28.5-29) that:

 

He mentions that when speaking of the dead they added quickly "Let us not disturb the memory of them."

 

When someone sneezed you would say "Good health" as we say bless you.

 

It was a common belief that if someone spoke about you when you were not present you would hear a ringing in your ears.

 

It was very unlucky to sweep the floor while a dinner guest was leaving or to remove the table or serving stray while a guest was drinking.

 

Cutting your hair on the 17th or 29th day of the month preventer baldness as well as headaches.

 

To cure eye inflammation you could tie a linen thread around your neck with a piece of papyrus on which the two Greek letters P and A was written. This was confirmed working by three consuls!

[Andrew Dalby]

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