Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

divine animal omen before battle

divine_animal_omen_before_battle

A motif of the Prophecy and Systematic Divination family, within the sub-family Animal and Bird Omens. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


greek

  • The Iliad THE THIRD BATTLE, AND THE ACTS OF AGAMEMNON. / BOOK XII. / ARGUMENT. / THE BATTLE AT THE GRECIAN WALL.; lines 12026-12164 confidence: high

    Hector and Polydamas lead Trojans toward the works to attack the fleet and wall with flames, but a heaven-sent omen stops the host.

    A bird identified with Jove carries a serpent, is wounded, and drops it; the event halts the army and is read as a warning about the attack.

    read in the book