Astrology in ancient Mesopotamia
Sumerians living in Ancient Mesopotamia around 4000BC believed that the stars and planets could reveal the thinking of the gods. So they founded astrology, the art of foretelling the future by examining the movement of the stars and planets.
Priests built ziggurats, pyramid-like temples that doubled as platforms for stargazing, and noted planet movements, eclipses, and comets. This data was then used to predict the future - ranging from storm warnings to whether it was a good time to go to war.
When the Babylonians took over the region 2,000 years later, they took the science a step further by setting up a zodiac system that divided the sky into separate zones. This made observing, tracking and recording the positions of the stars and planets more efficient.
Sacred chickens in ancient Rome
Roman generals looking for an auspicious omen before going into battle would ask their sacred chickens for a sign. The caretaker would open the cage and throw down their favourite food.
If the birds rushed out in a tight bunch and settled down to eat greedily while making cackling noises, the omen was considered good. If they refused to come out of the cage, or beat their wings, or refused to eat, the venture would be delayed to a luckier time.
