institution
Collegium Augurum
the college of augurs
also: sacerdota collegium, college of priests, college of augurs, amplissimum collegium
The college of augurs, the priestly body charged with interpreting the auspices; both Cicero and Appius Claudius Pulcher were members, and Cicero invokes its rule barring co-optation of an enemy of any member (Fam. 3.10.9). Distinct from the college of pontiffs.
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 9.15 §2 a decree of the augurs
The college of augurs, the priestly board that interpreted the auspices; their decree could be needed to validate the appointment of magistrates. Cicero, himself an augur, fears Caesar will press the college into legitimizing irregular elections.
- Ad Familiares 3.10 §9 the most ample college of priests
The college of augurs, to which both Cicero and Appius belonged; by its rule a man at enmity with a member could not be co-opted, so membership was itself a pledge of friendship between augurs.
- Ad Familiares 8.3 §1 How sore do you think your rival for the augurate must be
An augural vacancy (probably that left by Hortensius's expected death) was being filled; Cicero was a candidate, and Hirrus, Caelius's own electoral rival, was a rival of Cicero's for this priesthood. The augurs interpreted the will of the gods from bird-signs.
- Ad Familiares 8.12 §1 the augural college
The college of augurs, the priesthood of state diviners; a vacancy in 50 BC set off the contest in which Caelius backed Antony, earning Appius's and L. Domitius's enmity.
- Brutus §1 co-opted into the college
New augurs were chosen (co-opted) by the existing members of the college rather than elected; Hortensius had voted, under oath, to admit Cicero.
- Cato the Elder, On Old Age §64 There are many fine things in our college of augurs
In the augural college precedence in giving an opinion went strictly by age, the eldest first, ranking even above men holding military command (imperium). Cicero, an augur himself, prizes this honour to seniority.
- On Divination §1.3 a most excellent augur
An augur was a Roman priest who took the auspices, observing the flight, feeding, and cries of birds to learn whether the gods sanctioned a public act. Cicero himself was an augur, which is why Quintus addresses much of the argument to him.