Decius Mus receiving Evil Augury. The caption for this early 1900s illustration reads: Decius Mus (consul in 340 ) is still one of the heroes of early Rome. His story is so famous that the great artist Rubens told it in a series of six paintings. Having space for only one of these, we show you the priests judging the future by signs found in the body of a new-killed bull. From the omens they warn Decius that either he or his army must perish. He sacrificed himself through devotio.

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Size: 5308px × 3487px
Photo credit: © Ivy Close Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: .., 390s, 4th, ancient, augury, century, decius, devotio, devotion, early, fourth, hero, history, legends, mus, omens, roman, rome, rubens, superstition, superstitions, tales