Birds in Roman Life and Myth

This book explores the diverse role of birds in Roman life, from omens and augury to domestication and exploitation. It uses a range of evidence to examine birds as divine messengers, heralds, hunted quarry, and companion animals, providing an important reference for researchers interested in human-animal relations and animals in the ancient world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 03 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into a wide array of topics to provide a comprehensive understanding of the significance of birds in Roman society. It begins by exploring the role of birds in omens, augury, and auspices, with a special focus on the revered sacred chickens consulted by magistrates and generals before crucial decisions. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the book draws upon a diverse range of evidence streams, including literary evidence, art, material culture, zooarchaeology, and modern ornithological knowledge, to reconstruct the intricate ways in which Romans interacted with, thought about, and utilized birds. Through a blend of evidence, the book examines birds as divine messengers, heralds, hunted quarry, domestic flocks, companion animals, and more. Serving as an invaluable reference for researchers interested in human-animal relations and animals in the ancient world, this book offers a rich and multifaceted perspective on the multifaceted role of birds in Roman life.

Weight: 552g
Dimension: 241 x 164 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032162867