The Sacred Chickens Aren’t Eating – Divination and Piety in the Roman Republic

The Temple Emanu-El Center for Interfaith Dialogue presents a special conversation with Dr. Brahm Kleinman, professor of Classics at McGill University, on religion in Rome.

This talk will focus on Roman practices of divination, the art of discovering the will of the gods. The Romans consulted the gods before committing nearly any political or military action, whether by inspecting a liver or observing if sacred chickens had eaten grain. Yet how did Romans react when the auspices were negative, and what do these reactions tell us about Roman ideas of piety?

Dr. Brahm Kleinman is a Faculty Lecturer at McGill University, where he teaches ancient Roman history and ancient languages. His research focuses on political corruption, provincial administration, and concepts of accountability during the Roman Republic.

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