Cyceron, Katylina i wróżby
Cicero, Catiline and prophecies

Summary/Abstract: One of the most characteristic phenomena in a political situation in Rome at the end of a republic is the usage of religion, prophecies in particular, in internal battles. An interesting example of this type of actions includes the ones of Mark Tullius Cicero against Catiline. He interpreted numerously appearing prodigia as predicting unhappiness for Rome the Catiline’s plot was supposed to be. The article is devoted to the analysis of symbols and events Cicero considered helpful in unmasking the plans of Catiline. They also involved astronomic (sun eclipse, comets, sun torch), as well as natural (storms, thunders, thunderbolts of earthquakes) phenomena. Much more important in his battle with Catilinaires were the events and prophecies to which he ascribed symbolic and religious meaning. It concerned, among others, the issues of statues, Jupiter and a she‑wolf with Romulus. Cicero used them, presenting himself as a sender of Jupiter and a new Romulus, a refounder of Rome. What was also significant constituted the prophecies of an augur Appius Claudius (augurium Salutis) and a symbol (a bursting flame) which was seen by the vestals during celebrations in honour of a Good Goddess. At the same time, it is characteristic that 20 years later Cicero, in the course of De divinatione, was skeptical towards the symbols described, questioning their “divine” nature.

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