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Literary
January 25, 1783
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A dissertation on ancient auspices, detailing how early pious sacrifices evolved into superstitious rituals where examining victims' entrails and behaviors predicted success in war and endeavors.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
A Dissertation on the Auspices of the Ancients.
IN the most early ages of the world, a sense of piety, and a regard to decency, had introduced a custom of never sacrificing to him, who gave them all their blessings, any but the soundest, the most fat and beautiful victims. This ceremonial, which doubtless sprang at first from gratitude, and some natural ideas of fitness and propriety, at last degenerated into trifling niceties and superstitious ceremonies. And it having been once imagined, that nothing was to be expected from the gods when the victim was imperfect, the idea of perfection was united with abundance of trivial circumstances. The entrails were examined with peculiar care; and if the whole was without blemish, their duties were fulfilled: and under an assurance that they had engaged the gods to be on their side, they engaged in war; and in the most hazardous undertakings, with such a confidence of success as had the greatest tendency to procure it. All the motions of the victim that was led to the altar became so many prophecies: If he advanced with an easy air in a straight line, and without offering resistance: if he made no extraordinary bellowing when he received the blow; if he did not get loose from the person that led him to slaughter, it was a prognostic of an easy and flowing success.
MUNGO.
Vide Homer:
IN the most early ages of the world, a sense of piety, and a regard to decency, had introduced a custom of never sacrificing to him, who gave them all their blessings, any but the soundest, the most fat and beautiful victims. This ceremonial, which doubtless sprang at first from gratitude, and some natural ideas of fitness and propriety, at last degenerated into trifling niceties and superstitious ceremonies. And it having been once imagined, that nothing was to be expected from the gods when the victim was imperfect, the idea of perfection was united with abundance of trivial circumstances. The entrails were examined with peculiar care; and if the whole was without blemish, their duties were fulfilled: and under an assurance that they had engaged the gods to be on their side, they engaged in war; and in the most hazardous undertakings, with such a confidence of success as had the greatest tendency to procure it. All the motions of the victim that was led to the altar became so many prophecies: If he advanced with an easy air in a straight line, and without offering resistance: if he made no extraordinary bellowing when he received the blow; if he did not get loose from the person that led him to slaughter, it was a prognostic of an easy and flowing success.
MUNGO.
Vide Homer:
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Auspices
Ancient Sacrifices
Superstition
Piety
Victims
Prophecies
What entities or persons were involved?
Mungo.
Literary Details
Title
A Dissertation On The Auspices Of The Ancients.
Author
Mungo.
Subject
On The Auspices Of The Ancients
Key Lines
In The Most Early Ages Of The World, A Sense Of Piety, And A Regard To Decency, Had Introduced A Custom Of Never Sacrificing To Him, Who Gave Them All Their Blessings, Any But The Soundest, The Most Fat And Beautiful Victims.
All The Motions Of The Victim That Was Led To The Altar Became So Many Prophecies: If He Advanced With An Easy Air In A Straight Line, And Without Offering Resistance: If He Made No Extraordinary Bellowing When He Received The Blow; If He Did Not Get Loose From The Person That Led Him To Slaughter, It Was A Prognostic Of An Easy And Flowing Success.