At Rome. the auspices were taken on the summit of the Capitoline hill; and the ground on which the augur stood was solemnly set apart for the purpose. The latter then took a wand, and marked out h portion of the heavens in which his observations were to be made. This imaginary portion was called a tempum (hence eontemplari, to contemplate), and was subdivided into right and left. According as the birds appeared in either of these divisions were the auspices favorable or unfavorable. How vast the political influence and authority of the augurs must have been is seen from the fact that almost nothing of any consequence could take place without their sanction and approval. The election of every important ruler, king, consul, dictator, or praetor, every civic officer, every religious functionary, was invalid if the auspices were unfavorable. No general could lawfully engage in battle—no public land could be allotted—no marriage or adoption, at least among the patricians, was held valid—unless the auspices were first taken, while the tomitia of time centuries could be dispersed at a moment's notice by the veto of any member of the augural college.
We have employed the two terms, auguries and auspices, as synonymouS. But a slight difference is perceptible between them: !tot the augurs only, but the chief magis trates of Rome (inheriting the honor from Romulus), held the "auspices," while the "auguries" were exclusively in the possession of the former; but the mode of divination, and the end to be obtained by it, seem to have been the same in both cases.
The power of taking the auspices in war was confined to the commander-in-chief; and any victory gained by a legate was said to be won under the auspices of his superior, mind the latter alone was entitled to a triumph. Henee has originated the very common phrase in our language, "under the auspices" of some one, which usually denotes nothing more than that the person alluded to merely lends the influence of his name.
AUGUST. the sixth month in the Roman year, which began with Mar. was originally August. the sixth month in the Roman year, which began with Mar. was originally styled &Wilk and received its present name from the emperor Augustus, on ac•ount of several of the most fortunate events of his life Navin, occurred during this month. On this month lie was first admitted to the consulate, and thrice entered the city in triumph. On the same month, the legions from the Janieulum placed themselves under his auspices, Egypt was brought under the authority of the Roman people, and an end put to the civil wars. (See' Macrobius, i. 12.) As the fifth month, or Quintals, had pre viously been styled Julius in honor of Julius Cicsar, a day was taken from Feb. to make A. equal with July.