The Book of the Bizarre: Freaky Facts and Strange Stories (26 page)

Mirrors ward off evil spirits—or so thought the ancient Chinese, who were convinced that spirits did not want to be seen in a looking glass.

THE CUMAEAN SIBYL

Ancient Rome had ten Sibyls—prophetesses who channeled divine energy—who lived in Persia, Libya, Samos, Cimmeria, Erythraea, Tibur, Marpessus, Phrygia, Delphi, and Cumae. One of the best known is the Cumaean Sibyl, who lived near Naples in the fifth century B.C. Her cave, which was said to lead directly to the underworld, was rediscovered in 1932; the passageway is 375 feet long. Like the priestess at Delphi, the Cumaean Sibyl gained her powers through association with the god Apollo, who offered her anything if she would spend the night with him. She asked for eternal life, but as she neglected to ask for eternal youth, she shriveled into a shadow.

She wrote her prophecies on leaves that she placed at the mouth of her cave. If no one came to pick them up, she let the wind scatter them.
The Sibylline Verses
, which told the Romans how to gain favor with foreign gods, were eventually bound into nine volumes, which the Sibyl tried to sell to the Roman king, Tarquin. He scoffed at the high price, so she burned three of the books. The price was still too high, he scoffed again, and she burned three more books. When she returned with the last three books, the king decided maybe there was something he ought to know, so he bought them. They were kept in the capitol and consulted until some were destroyed in a fire in 83 B.C. The rest survived until another fire in A.D. 405, at which time enterprising Romans began writing pseudo-Sibylline prophecies.

AS THE BIRD TOLLS

Ancient Romans never made a decision without first observing the flight patterns of the birds that soared above their empire. This practice was so valuable that in very early times areas were cleared of buildings and trees so as not to obscure the view of the birds' flights. The augur would perform a divination ceremony, marking off space in the sky with his staff and taking note of
the birds' direction, speed, and song, whenever an important military or political decision was to be made.

FORTUNA REDUX

Fortuna Redux was the Roman goddess of successful journeys and safe returns. She has been probably invoked, if only unconsciously, by every explorer who ever set foot on unknown land.

Emperor Augustus erected an altar to Fortuna Redux after he returned from a long journey through Asia in 19 B.C. In A.D. 93 a new temple was erected by the emperor Domitian, who was forever doing battle to keep the empire together and himself on the throne.

THE EVIL EYE

The concept of the evil eye dates back to around 3000 B.C. Mentioned in the Bible and ancient Sumerian, Assyrian, and Voudon texts, it is still prevalent in parts of Europe, Central America, and Mexico. Historical notions of the evil eye fall into two categories. The intentional category assumes that the perpetrators—such as witches, warlocks, and medicine men—purposely cast their evil eyes over their victims. But some unfortunate souls are
afflicted with the evil eye without even knowing it, and the people around them must learn to avoid their wicked gazes or risk death, destruction, or despair. Two notable figures said to have been born with the evil eye were Pope Pius IX and Pope Leo XIII.

A grilled-cheese sandwich bearing the image of the Virgin Mary was sold in 2004 for $28,000.

Ancient Bulgarians insisted that one finish one's entire meal before leaving the dinner table. This custom supposedly encouraged the hens to sit patiently on their nests and brood.

The ancient Romans took great stock in the wisdom of astrology. Emperor Tiberius consulted with his personal astrologer before making any key decision.