eagle

In Ancient Rome the actions of birds served as an important form of divination. The flight patterns and actions of birds would be interpreted by an Augur, or another official. This type of divination was not meant to predict the future but give validity to certain events or bureaucrats. This whole process was related to the god Jupiter. Before taking office or before beginning any public action, an official was expected to consult Jupiter, the god of auspices. An eagle landing on Claudius' shoulder would have been seen as a powerful symbol in Ancient Rome.



Boatwright, Mary. A Brief History of the Romans. New York; Oxford University Press, 2006