Crucified Dogs and Sacred Chickens: 9 Facts About Animals In Ancient Rome

9 Bizarre Facts about Animals in Ancient Rome
Sacred Geese - Livy, the History of Rome, 5.47
Punished guard dogs - Pliny the Elder, Natural History, 29.57
Dog tombstones - Podberscek et al 2005: Companion Animals and Us: Exploring the Relationships Between People and Pets, p. 33.
Divine chickens Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 3.7
Caligula’s horse – Suetonius, the Life of Caligula, 55
Sertorius’ fawn - Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 11
Climbing cow – Livy, the History of Rome, 21.62
Sacred Spring – Strabo, 5.4.12
Lampreys - Plutarch, On the Intelligence of Animals, 976a; Casius Dio 54.23.2.

In ancient Rome, animals played significant roles in both everyday life and extraordinary events. During a Gaul siege, sacred geese, honored by the goddess Juno, averted a massacre by alerting the Romans, contrasting with the unfortunate fate of the guard dogs who failed to bark. Romans valued their guard dogs, evident in their tombstones adorned with heartfelt inscriptions, while sacred chickens determined the outcomes of naval battles through their feeding habits, with disastrous consequences for those who disregarded their significance. The eccentricity of Roman rulers extended to Emperor Caligula, who planned to appoint his horse as consul, highlighting his disdain for the Senate. General Sertorius cleverly manipulated his followers by claiming divine communication through a trained fawn, while the city of Rome interpreted a cow's unusual behavior as an ominous sign of Hannibal's impending threat. Additionally, ancient Romans founded cities guided by omens from animals, such as the Samnites' selection of Bovianum, and exhibited peculiar pet preferences, including keeping eels and lampreys, revealing a fascinating aspect of Roman society and belief systems.
Music: Celtic Impulse by Kevin MacLeod.

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