De divinations

De divinatione is a 44 BC Dialogue written by Marcus Tullius Cicero . In it he deals with the question of whether there is a “real” fortune telling or prophecy ( divinatio ) based on reality or not. With Chrysippus, Cicero defines divinatio as the ability to recognize, see and explain the signs that the gods offer to people.

Origin and structure

Cicero wrote from autumn 45 BC. Until May 44 BC. The three thematically related works De natura deorum , De divinatione and De fato on religion and theology.
The book is designed as a conversation between Cicero and his brother Quintus on the estate near Tusculum. In Book 1, Quintus defends the meaning of divinatio with a multitude of examples. In Book 2, Cicero refutes these examples and raises fundamental objections to the divinatio .

swell

For the treatment of the subject in the Etruscan, Greek and Roman context, Cicero must have had various sources available, but these cannot be given with certainty. Regarding the Etruscan examples, it is believed that he benefited from his friend and correspondent Nigidius Figulus . Cicero names numerous names of Greek historians and philosophers, in particular he quotes Carneades . He may have found the Roman omens in Poseidonios .

content

Contents of the book 1

In his speech, Quintus Tullius Cicero deals with very different practices of divinatio using examples. The most important are the Roman auspices [ua29], the Roman augurs [u. a. 105], entrails inspection of Etruscan origin [u. a. 119], Roman [u. a. 58, 59] and Greek [u. a. 54] dreams, Greek oracles [u. a. 37], Greek divination in frenzy [u. a. 34].

Contents of the book 2

Cicero begins Book 2 by listing the books he has written since his forced retirement from political life. In this way he found consolation and an opportunity to use his fellow citizens.
Then he refutes his brother's examples, assuming them to be chance and invention. He is sometimes sarcastic, speaks of the fact that “that strength ... has evaporated as a result of age” or quotes Hannibal regarding the inspection of the intestines : “In fact, you would rather trust a piece of veal than an old general?” In this context As a well-known dictum of Catos he passed on the sentence about the proverbial smile of the initiated: "That old bon mot Catos is still known, he is surprised that a victim interpreter does not have to laugh at the sight of another victim interpreter".

He only allows the auspices ([70] - [82]) to apply, since they are part of the Roman state. But he also describes them as meaningless.
In the last sections Cicero makes a strict distinction between religion and superstition, to which he largely assigns divinatio . While religion, promoted by the institutions of the ancestors, and the beauty and order of the universe are to be affirmed, superstition must be rejected.

Tradition and continuation

Cicero is used by several ancient authors, including Valerius Maximus and Pliny the Elder .
Copies of the work have survived to the present: Vossianus Lat. Fol. 84 and 86 (Leiden), 9th century, Vindobonensis Lat. 189 (Vienna), 9th century, Leidensis Lat. 118 (Leiden), 11th century and Florentinus Marcianus Lat. 257 (Florence), 9th century

Text output, translation and commentary

• Wilhelm Ax (ed.): M. Tvlli Ciceronis scripta qvae manservnt omnia, Fasc. 46: De divinations. De fato. Timaevs , Stuttgart 1977. (Reprint of the 1st edition, Leipzig 1938)
• Marcus Tullius Cicero: About fortune telling , edited, translated and explained by Christoph Schäublin , Munich and Zurich, 1991.
• David Wardle: Cicero on divination. De divinatione, book 1 , Oxford 2006.

literature

• Klaus Bringmann : Studies on the late Cicero . Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 1971. ISBN 978-3-525-25120-1
• David Engels : The Roman omens (753-27 BC) . Sources, terminology, commentary, historical development. Stuttgart: Steiner 2007. (Potsdamer Classical Studies. 22.) ISBN 978-3-51509027-8
• Andree Hahmann: Cicero Defining the Stoic Science of Divination , apeiron 2018, 52 (3), pp. 1–21.
• Christoph Schäublin : About the divination of Marcus Tullius Cicero. Introduction , Munich and Zurich: Artemis & Winkler 1991. ISBN 978-3-76081663-0

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Schäublin, introduction
2. ↑ Schäublin, Divination, Book 2, [130]
3. ^ Klaus Bringmann, Physics and Theology in the Philosophical Work of Cicero
4. ↑ David Engels, 2.3.16.4. swell
5. ↑ Christoph Schäublin, Book 2, [38]
6. ↑ Christoph Schäublin, Book 2, [52]
7. ↑ de divinatione 2,51: "Vetus autem illud Catonis admodum scitum est, qui mirari se aiebat, quod non rideret haruspex, haruspicem cum vidisset."
8. ↑ David Engels, 2.3.16.3. De divinations
9. ^ Christian Schäublin, manuscripts