ARUSPICES, or HARUSPICES, in Roman Antiquity, an order of priests who pretended to foretell future events by inspecting the entrails of victims killed in sacrifice; and who were consulted on occasion of portents and prodigies. The aruspices were chosen from the best families; yet although their employment was of the same nature as that of the augurs, and they were much honoured, they never acquired the same political importance, being regarded rather as mere interpreters of the will of the gods, than as possessing any religious authority. Their college, as well as those of the other religious orders, had its particular registers and records.