1. Roman Superstitions Out of numina and Etruscan nightmares
Lamia – boogeywoman ate children
Lemures – Etruscan ghosts of the
dead
Werewolves - verspilles

2. Bad Omens
Stumbling on threshold leaving domus or crossing with left (sinister) foot
Mentioning fire at a banquet
Cock crow during party
Black cat entering domus
Snakes falling from roof into yard
Anything unnatural (e.g. deformed births/sweating statues)
Odd number at a party and all fall silent
Bearded woman

3. Time Specific – e.g. marriage on specific
days
Place Specific – e.g. cutting hair or nails
at sea or food falling from hand
to floor at banquet
Climate Specific – e.g. lightening flashes
Means of Averting Evil: whistle at lightening, charms & spells (e.g. bulla), burning fallen food to household gods, lick finger and pass behind ear to free of bad thoughts

4. Big Leagues Witches – Vergil says they can draw the moon from the sky
Carmina – spells, usually love or vengence
Protection from spells: wolf’s head or wolf’s beard nailed to door

5. Curses - Defixio Dedication of enemy to gods of underworld
Curse scratched onto lead tablet and nailed to tomb, well, cave, etc.
Defixiones found as far as Africa, Britain,
and Germany, as well as in Italy
SOCIAL SAFETY VALVE

6. Religious matters Augury – especially birds & other omens
‘sacred chickens’ with army
Hepatoscopy – Extispicy – organs of
sacrificial victims, especially liver