CAPUT EX´TORUM
CAPUT EX´TORUM The Roman soothsayers (
haruspices) pretended to a knowledge of coming
events from the inspection of the entrails of victims slain for that
purpose. The part to which they especially directed their attention was the
liver, the convex upper portion of which seems to have been called the
caput extorum. (
Plin. Nat. 11. § § 189, 190.) Any disease or
deficiency in this organ was considered an unfavourable omen; whereas, if
healthy and perfect, it was believed to indicate good fortune. The
haruspices divided it into two parts,--one called
familiaris, the other
hostilis:
from the former, they foretold the fate of friends; from the latter, that of
enemies. Thus we read (
Liv. 8.9) that the head of
the liver was mutilated by the knife of the operator on the
“familiar” part (
caput jecinoris a familiari
parte caesum), which was always a bad sign. But the word
“caput” here seems of doubtful application; for it may
designate either the convex upper part of the liver, or one of the upper
prominences of the various lobes which form its lower and irregularly
concave part. It is, however, more obvious and natural to understand by it
the upper part, which is formed of two prominences, called the great and
small, or right and left lobes. If no caput was found, it was a bad sign
(
nihil tristius accidere potuit); if well
defined or double, it was a lucky omen. (Cic.
de Div.
[p. 1.361]2.12, 13.28 ff.;
Liv.
27.26,
30.2,
41.14.)
[
R.W]
