... there actually was a Roman God called Terminus. The goddess Fortuna, who could be persuaded to favour or spite a person by certain actions, controlled good and bad luck in ancient Rome. To bring 'bona fortuna' (good fortune), the Romans cut their hair on the 17th and 29th day of a month to prevent headaches and baldness for example, and they spat on their hands after hitting somebody to lessen any resentment from the person struck. Attacking the memory of a dead person brought on 'mala fortuna' (bad fortune). If a fire was mentioned at a banquet, water had to be poured under the table and a feast could not be attended if there were an even number of diners as it would bring the people there bad luck. At times of death or family crisis the superstitious elements in religion came to the fore. The Romans used to believe in witches ...

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