The Sibylline Books and the Roman Empire: The Sibylline Books, consulted by Roman priests, contained prophecies believed to guide the Republic and Empire through crises. One famous prediction warned of a foreign king’s rise and Rome’s transformation. Over time, events like the Gallic invasion of 390 BCE, the rise of Augustus, and even the spread of Christianity were interpreted as fulfillments. Though the original books were lost, later writers cited them to explain Rome’s fate. The accuracy stems from selective interpretation and the books’ destruction, allowing myths to grow. They exemplify how prophecy was used to legitimize political and religious change in antiquity.
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