history and myths

[farishta]

In ancient Rome this official would guide public policy by reading the omens (6) beginning with A.

[Johnmof]

Augur

[Johnmof]

Sorry. Just noticed the 6 letters. Probably Augury.

[shaneystar]

Auspex,,if this is from the telegraph crossword.

[jno]

au from avis, the word for bird; spex from seeing, as in specs. So an auspex would read the future by watching a bird in flight. How on earth did the Roman empire survive so long?

[kempie]

...because they also relied on the haruspex to inspect the entrails of sacrificed animals.