Rome has gone to the birds

Actually Rome was always interested in the birds.  My mom, grandmother and great-grandmother would always "read" birds, which indicated something good or bad was about to happen.  For example, this past New Year's day my mother related to us how she saw two large birds ripping up a smaller bird and she said this predicted something terrible would befall our family this coming year.  Shortly thereafter my sister had her home robbed.  Now we may conclude this was a coincidence, as well it may be but the practice of reading birds is an ancient one directly connected to this city.  Indeed, Remus founded his settlement on the Palatine because he saw a flock of 6 Gulls fly over that location and his brother Romulus (for whom he City is named) had his settlement on the opposite hill, the Aventine, after seeing a flock of 12 Gulls fly over that hill.  Both deemed the augur to be auspicious!  We moderns call these Gulls, 'Seagulls' and I doubt any of us find them auspicious!!!  But they are the reason I am typing this post from the city of Rome!!!!!

In Ancient Rome the reading of the flight of birds was known as Augury.  It was done by the College of Pontifex's whose head was the Pontifex Maximus.  This title, Pontifex Maximus, would eventually be used to describe the Pope and it still is.  It literally means, "The Great Bridge Builder".  Whenever something of great importance was to be undertaken in Rome; be it a military campaign or a Patrician family undertaking some grand work, the College of Pontifex's would be consulted.  The Priests would "read" the flight of birds, called the art of Augury.  If the flight of the birds was deemed good, "it augured well" and was considered "auspicious".  If not, it was a bad omen and the matter should not be undertaken.  Rome ruled the world for centuries and all on the advice of some Gulls!

Hmmm, this flight of birds seems to Augur well!

A Roman Parrot that sings to me each morning outside my window

On the Floor at St. Agnes in Piazza Navonna

You will find birds, in flight and in art, everywhere in Rome.  On top of Obelisk's, on fountains, in the floors of Churches, whispering in saints ear (in the NAC Chapel), in the Basilica of St. Peter's where the Holy Spirit burst forth above the Altar of the Chair.  Roman's and Italian's love their birds!

In fact Romans seem to adore animals, they are everywhere in sculpture, painting, mosaic, tapestry, in every form of art you find them.  I will have posts about other creatures found in the city from lions to elephants and little bees.