Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Haruspex

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

HARUS'PEX (ἱεροσκόπος). A soothsayer and diviner, who affected to foretell future events by inspecting the entrails of victims, and to interpret the extraordinary phaenomena of nature, such as lightning, thunder, meteoric effects, earthquakes, &c.; thus assuming the combined powers of an EXTISPEX and an AUGUR, both of whom held a regular political office, were appointed by the government, and used as state engines. But the haruspex held no sacerdotal nor public position; and amongst the educated classes were regarded with much less respect than the two other; though he carried his jugglery to a much greater extent than either, in order to trade more effectively upon the popular credulity. Cic. Div. i. 39. Val. Max. 1. 1. § 1. Columell. i. 8. 6. Herzog. ad Sall. Cat. 47. 2.