When you think of ancient Roman warfare, you probably picture armored legions, powerful generals, and grand strategy. What you might not picture is a group of chickens playing a vital role in battle decisions. But believe it or not, sacred chickens were once the military advisors of the Roman Republic — and what they had to say (or rather, eat) could determine the fate of an entire campaign. These weren’t just any chickens. Known as the sacred chickens of Rome, they were kept and consulted by priests, called augurs, who specialized in interpreting the will of the gods. These priests didn’t just observe the sky or animal behavior — they observed the chickens’ eating behaviors. Before a military campaign or major political decision, augurs would scatter feed in front of the sacred chickens and closely watch how they ate. If the birds pecked enthusiastically, spilling grain from their beaks, it was seen as a good omen and a green light for action. If the chickens refused to eat or acted uninterested, the message was clear: Don’t proceed. The gods were not in favor. One of the most infamous stories involving these chickens came in 249 BCE during the First Punic War. Roman naval commander Publius Claudius Pulcher wanted to attack the Carthaginians, but the chickens gave a bad omen by refusing to eat. Pulcher, annoyed by their lack of cooperation, reportedly threw the birds overboard, saying, “If they won’t eat, let them drink!” Unfortunately for him, his fleet suffered a devastating defeat shortly afterward — a loss many blamed on his disrespect for the sacred ritual. It might sound ridiculous today, but in ancient Rome, religion, superstition, and state affairs were deeply intertwined. Consulting omens was spiritually and politically expected. Ignoring them could spark public outrage or be viewed as inviting divine punishment. The sacred chickens are a strange reminder of how even the most powerful empires often relied on symbols and rituals that seem bizarre by today’s standards. Whether you believe in signs or not, one thing is clear — in Rome, you didn’t mess with the chickens. The Bizarre Battle Rituals of Ancient Rome WHEN CHICKENS CALLED THE SHOTS
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The Case for Adopting a Mixed-Breed Mutt
Some people choose purebred dogs as pets to avoid surprises about their animal’s future size or temperament. Others buy purebred puppies as a status symbol or conversation piece. While these are understandable motivations, there are reasons why a mixed-breed dog can be a better long-term choice. Choosing a mutt from a shelter can save you a lot of long-term heartache and expense. Purebred dogs are great when bred responsibly, but they’re generally at a higher risk of hereditary disease, such as the airway obstructions seen in pugs and English bulldogs, the hip dysplasia common to German shepherds and Labrador retrievers, or eye diseases that tend to plague miniature poodles and cocker spaniels. Vet bills for treating these problems can add up over the years. A mixed- breed pet has a better chance of living a long, healthy life due to hybrid vigor. Adopting a shelter pet is also cheaper up front. The cost of purebred puppies ranges from hundreds of dollars for more common breeds to thousands for rarer breeds, compared to roughly $50 to $200 for adopting a shelter pet. You can feel fairly confident that your mixed-breed pet didn’t come out of a puppy mill. Plus, when you adopt a mutt, you’re often saving a life. Mixed-breed pets run a higher risk than purebreds of being euthanized in shelters. About 2.9 million dogs entered shelters in 2024. Most were mixed-breed animals, and 60% of them were strays. While 2 million of these animals were adopted, 334,000 were euthanized, according to the ASPCA. And if you’re curious about your mutt’s heritage, we can run blood tests to discover what breeds make up your mixed-breed pup. If you are considering adopting a pet this year, consider making it a mixed-breed pooch. Not only will your wallet benefit, but you may gain a good feeling in your heart as well!
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