In 249 BCE, the great-great-grandson of the famous Appius Claudius (as a censor changed Latin spelling and built in Rome one of the first aqueducts), consul Appius Claudius Pulcher during the First Punic War attacked the Carthaginian fleet at Drepanum (today’s Trapani) in Sicily.
However, he was defeated, losing 93 ships from 120. It was believed that the defeat was caused by previous action of Claudius. Namely, when sacred chickens – used for divination of the result of the battle – did not want to eat (which was considered as a bad omen), he ordered to throw them into the sea saying “Since they do not wish to eat, let them drink!”. Later on, he was dismissed to Rome and ordered to appoint a dictator.
