The role of augurs in ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, augurs were priests in charge of interpreting divine signs before public events. Their main task was to observe the flight of birds and other signs considered as omens, to determine whether the gods were favorable or unfavorable to an event. These interpretations allowed them to delay certain acts and even influence the annulment of votes, which made them very influential figures in Roman society.
The art of omen
The art of omens was based on the belief that the gods communicated with humans through the behavior of birds, weather phenomena, and other inexplicable signs. Augurs were considered specialists in predicting the future in ancient Rome and left written rules about the correct way to make their interpretations.
Augurs and their influence on society
The augurs had a prominent role in Roman society, since their interpretations influenced political and religious decision-making. Their ability to predict the future gave them considerable power, and their opinion was taken into account in important matters. They could even delay certain acts or cancel votes if they considered the omens were unfavorable.
Modern augurs and tertullians
Today, we could consider the tertullians and columnists as the modern heirs of the Roman augurs. Like augurs, these communicators interpret events and offer their opinions about the future. Their influence on public opinion is notable, and their words can have a significant impact on society.
The confusion in the current press
In today’s press environment, we often encounter contradictory and confusing news. Different media outlets interpret facts differently, which can cause confusion for readers. For example, on the front page of two newspapers you can find contradictory information about the meetings between the Spanish government and Junts. This lack of clarity makes it difficult to interpret events and make predictions about the future.
The importance of objectivity in information
It is essential that the media be impartial and objective when reporting on events. Lack of clarity and biased interpretation of facts can create confusion in society and make it difficult to make informed decisions. Roman augurs were experts at predicting the future, but their influence was based on objectivity and impartial interpretation of omens. Likewise, the media should strive to provide objective and truthful information to maximize readers’ understanding.
Conclusions
In short, augurs played an important role in ancient Rome as priests tasked with interpreting divine signs. Their ability to predict the future and their influence on Roman society made them influential figures. Nowadays, we can find parallels between the Roman augurs and the tertullians and columnists of the media. However, it is important that the media be impartial and objective in their reporting to avoid confusion and maximize readers’ understanding.
