FACTOID #53: If you thought Antarctica was inhospitable, think again - its land area is only ninety-eight percent ice. Reassuringly, the other 2% is categorised as "barren rock".
Feciales (or fetiales) was an order of priests in Ancient Rome. Ancient Rome was a civilization that existed in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476. ...
The order was established by Numa Pompilius. Their duty was to make formal proclamation of peace and war, and confirm treaties. They also carried out the functions of traveling heralds or ambassadors. According to legend, Numa Pompilius was the second of the Kings of Rome, succeeding Romulus. ...
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopaedia. The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Nuttall Encyclopaedia is an early 20th century encyclopedia, edited by Rev. ...
Tradition ascribes to it the control of the interregnum and a power of sanctioning acts of state (patrum auctoritas), to which it is difficult to give any significance for this early period.
It seems also to have possessed a customary right of controlling foreign policy, for the ancient formula of the Fetiales refers to the sanction of the patres (Livy i.
From the senate also must have been chosen the delegates appointed by the king either to be his executive representative when he was absent in the field (praefectus urbi), or to assist him in jurisdiction (Ilviri perduellionis, quaestores parricidii).
The fetiales held office for life and were responsible for rituals relating to the declaration of war and for procedures performed when peace treaties were concluded.
When a state was considered to have acted in a hostile manner towards Rome, two members of the college were sent to make a formal demand for compensation.
If the redress they demanded was not forthcoming within 30 days, the fetiales reported back to Rome, and if war was declared they crossed into the enemy's territory and threw a twin-pointed javelin.
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