{"product_id":"the-challenge-to-the-auspices-c-f-konrad-9780192855527","title":"The Challenge to the Auspices: Studies on Magisterial Power in the Middle Roman Republic","description":"No public action of the Roman state, the \u003cem\u003epopulus Romanus\u003c\/em\u003e, at home or at war, was to be carried out without prior permission from Iuppiter Optimus Maximus. Permission was obtained, in a procedure known as auspices, by the magistrate in charge of the intended action-usually a Consul, Praetor, or Dictator. Auspices thus occupy a fundamental place in the-unwritten-constitution of the Roman State. Yet especially in the 3rd century BCE, acceptance of the principle was not always universal. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Challenge to the Auspices\u003c\/em\u003e presents an investigation into the interaction of Roman magistrates during the Middle Republic with the practice of auspices, with a focus on attempts to avoid, ignore, or resist this requirement. Proceeding from an examination of the Roman concepts of \u003cem\u003eimperium\u003c\/em\u003e and auspices (\u003cem\u003eauspicia\u003c\/em\u003e), especially as they relate to the realm of war, and of the constitutional position and powers of the Dictator and the Master-of-Horse (\u003cem\u003emagister equitum\u003c\/em\u003e) relative to each other and to the Consuls and lower magistrates, the work offers six case studies in which Roman commanders questioned, violated, or openly rejected the need for auspices. It is argued that these instances reflect a not insignificant minority view within the Roman ruling class regarding the efficacy of auspices and the necessity of observing them. The catastrophic outcome in several of these events, particularly during the early years of the Second Punic War, rendered further resistance to the practice politically unsustainable, and by the second century resulted in its universal acceptance, regardless of personal belief.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e C. F. Konrad\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0192855522\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780192855527\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/25\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 364\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.55lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.32h x 6.42w x 1.02d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/01\/2023","brand":"C. F. Konrad","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44076431016191,"sku":"9780192855527","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_494acde3-894b-4bb7-885f-c95f6a971099.jpg?v=1685464950","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-challenge-to-the-auspices-c-f-konrad-9780192855527","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}