Omens+Period+3


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Omens were thought of to make sense in some aspects in life. It’s also related to Karma, when you create a positive action and you get positive things back, and the same with negative actions. Omens were used also in a cultural manner, showing brief moments in history in the writing of it’s own type of ideals. “ The belief that objects, or living beings could possess special spiritual properties was widespread in primitive societies.” (Omens and Superstitions 1) This explains some examples in omens. In some cultures, omens have to do with spiritual beings of either religious views or other kinds. The point of it was to give people another thing to believe in, having people wonder about them for centuries. They created many ideas that people can related to in modern times.

Works Cited http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/superstitions.html Culturally

Tim Wils

Omens have had a major affect on the way people live their lives, and has influenced many societies to this day. Omens have had big impacts on the way that many different cultures run their lives, while in others omens are simply dismissed as superstitions. In many areas however omens are treated with high regard, and must not be ignored or forgotten. For example in the Indian culture “In seeking for omens, Natives consult the so-called science of omens or science of the five birds, and are guided by them. Selected omens are always included in native calendars or panchangams” (Thurston 1). Omens impact the Indian culture so majorly that they put selected ones on their calendar for them to always keep in mind. Many cultures also looked to the natural world for their signs and what fortune and or misfortune would befall upon them. For example Babylonian-Assyrian people created many ways to look into natural for their fate, such as astrology by looking into the moons, the sun, and the stars for what sort of omens would befall them (Jastrow 1). Omens have impacted many different cultures to this day, and for some are still a very important part of everyday life as they look for answers that the natural world may give them.

Works Cited

Thurston, Edgar. //Omens and Supersitions of Southern India//. New York: McBride, Nast & Company. 1912. Print.

Jastrow, Morris. //Babylonian-Assyrian Birth Omens and Their Cultural Significance//. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania. 2011. Print.

__**Historically:**__ Omens or visions have been used since during times of Ancient Greece as a way to explain the future and the unexplainable.The dictionary definition of an omen is “An event regarded as a portent of good or evil.” There is also the definition “prophetic significance”. Everything from the way the waves rolled, to the type of bird that was seen near the livestock was considered some sort of omen. Omens were also considered to be signs sent from the Gods, that were to be deciphered and followed as soon as possible. Most today are just past off as silly superstitions today, but back then, they were taken very seriously. Some examples of omens are from the Romans, such as to always step through a threshold with one’s left foot, or how any place that had been struck by lightning was considered sacred to Jupiter (Zeus). Another omen of great significance that was used with both the Greeks and Romans was bird signs. It was called an augury. If something needed to be answered, an augury would be scheduled and would usually take place on a high hilltop. Taking a couple days for a complete answer, everything would be observed and recorded from what birds were around and how and what direction and when they were flying to cloud formations and nat ure reactions to yes or no questions. Only after this task was completed would there be a given answer to the desired question.
 * By: Harrisen Haslem **
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 * [|__http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/superstitions.html__] **


 * [|__http://www.examiner.com/article/birds-fall-dead-fish-how-the-ancients-found-meaning-bird-signs-and-omens__] **

__**Audience**:__

By: Joy Kosik



Ancient Rome is most thought of when thinking of omens. Omens were widely believed in back then in Rome, and many leaders used them to their advantage in wars and battles. In books, omen are often used as symbols of what is to come. Readers will interpret these omens and may try to guess at what will happen, whether it be good or bad. Sometimes, omens will not be noticed but still understood. For example, when people see black cats and think it’s bad luck to cross their path; the same can be said in books. When there is something symbolic in a book it can be see many different ways by different people. Omens can also be used to foreshadow events later as well, depending on how sinister or ominous the omen is put off as. In Dante’s Inferno, symbolism and omens are seen. One particular example is the inscription on the entrance to Hell, which Dante and Virgil read before entering Hell. Omens can be seen in modern society, as well as in old books and modern books. They warn of what is to come and can make people guess at what they could mean, and besides that, they can foreshadow events for readers.

Works Cited:

"Google." Google Images. Google, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. < https://www.google.com/search?num=10>.

Cohen, Daniel. "Omens and Portents." EBSCOHost. EBSCOHost, 1999. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. < http://web.ebscohost.com/src/detail?sid=a2e39ad6-c455-489f-bd1c-2db59732205b%40sessionmgr110&vid=1&hid=119&bdata=JnNpdGU9c3JjLWxpdmU%3d#db=n9h&AN=8718785>.

"Omen." EBSCOHost. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 1 Nov. 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. < http://web.ebscohost.com/src/detail?sid=d81d6ece-f1c4-4e96-b9e4-e5a1cba07977%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=119&bdata=JnNpdGU9c3JjLWxpdmU%3d#db=ulh&AN=39025619>.

"Omens and Superstitions." Omens and Superstitions. Roman Colosseum, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. < http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/superstitions.html>.