The Romans, notwithstanding their shrewdness in politics and wars, consulted no less than three distinct classes of priests for a prognostication before taking any political or military action of importance: the augures, the haruspices, and the quindecimviri. The latter kept and interpreted the sacred books of Sibylla of Cumae.

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 - 43 B.C.), talented lawyer, professional politician, and one of the most gifted writers of classical antiquity, was himself also an augur. One of his works is entitled De Divinatione, "about divination".

The lituus to the left, was the staff which the augur, the Roman oracle priest used to mark the templum, the sacred space for divination.

It was crowned with a spiral design like the one shown which is forged in bronce, dating from around 580 B.C. National Museum, Rome.