Why was it considered a bad omen to be born feet first in the Roman times and which emperor was born in this manner?

srini701

Guess the superstition was that unless the legs were rubbed with bay leafs, the child was destined to become crippled by an accident? And was Agrippa the emperor who was born that way? http://www.denofheathens.com/2004_sep.html Oct 12 07, 12:42 AM

zbeckabee

Who: Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (December 15, 37 – June 9, 68) born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus. Just nine months after Tiberius’ death, on December 15, Domitius acknowledged the birth of a son in the ninth year of his marriage to Agrippina (Nero 6.1; Dio 61.2.1; Ann. 13.6) and, true to the Domitii tradition, this was the only son born to Gnaeus. Nero was born at Antium, a favorite place for the Julio-Claudians, just as the sun rose (a favorable omen) and entered the world feet first (considered a bad omen). This kind of delivery would have been dangerous and very painful and the difficulty of Nero’s birth may explain why Agrippina did not bear any more children. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/7094/nero_cel1.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero Oct 12 07, 8:29 AM