Haruspicy was also used in public cult, under the supervision of the augur or presiding magistrate. The haruspices divined the will of the gods through examination of entrails after sacrifice, particularly the liver. They also interpreted omens, prodigies and portents, and formulated their expiation. Most Roman authors describe haruspicy as an ancient, ethnically Etruscan "outsider" religious profession, separate from Rome's internal and largely unpaid priestly hierarchy, essential but never quite respectable. During the mid-to-late Republic, the reformist Gaius Gracchus, the populist politician-general Gaius Marius and his antagonist Sulla, and the "notorious Verres" justified their very different policies by the divinely inspired utterances of private diviners. The senate and armies used the public haruspices: at some time during the late Republic, the Senate decreed that Roman boys of noble family be sent to Etruria for training in haruspicy and divination. Being of independent means, they would be better motivated to maintain a pure, religious practice for the public good. The motives of private haruspices – especially females – and their clients were officially suspect: none of this seems to have troubled Marius, who employed a Syrian prophetess. COUNT 5
QSN1 What process did haruspicy use to divine the will of the gods? ANS1 examination of entrails QSN2 Which of the entrails was especially important to augury? ANS2 liver QSN3 To which group can haruspicy to traced? ANS3 Etruscan QSN4 What type of private  individual had several generals and politicians used to validate their actions? ANS4 diviners QSN5 What type of diviners did the armies use to determine the will of the gods? ANS5 public haruspices