Ancient Roman mystics predicted the future using alectryomancy, an absurdly literal process where they drew letters in the dirt, placed grains of wheat on them, and let a chicken peck at the food to spell out prophecies.

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Ancient Roman mystics predicted the future using alectryomancy, an absurdly literal process where they drew letters in the dirt, placed grains of wheat on them, and let a chicken peck at the food to spell out prophecies. When a general named Publius Claudius Pulcher wanted to know if he should attack the Carthaginian fleet, the sacred chickens dramatically refused to eat the grain, which was considered a terrible omen. Instead of listening to the poultry, he threw the sacred birds into the ocean, declaring that if they wouldn't eat, they could drink, and then promptly lost the battle. It is a shining historical moment proving that if you entrust your entire military strategy to farmyard poultry, you really shouldn't get mad when the chickens refuse to cooperate