Delphic oracle in the context of "Diodorus"

Titus Tarquinius was one of the sons of the last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. According to Livy and fragments of the first Roman historian, Fabius Pictor, he was the eldest son; however, Dionysius of Halicarnassus claims he was not.

Dionysius claims that each of the brothers were regents of different towns: Titus was regent of Signia. In spite of their duties, Livy and Dionysius record that Titus and his younger brother Arruns, along with his cousin Lucius Junius Brutus travelled to consult the Delphic oracle to have an omen witnessed by the king interpreted.

A sacrificial tripod, whose name comes from the Greek meaning "three-footed", is a three-legged piece of religious furniture used in offerings and other ritual procedures. This ritual role derives from its use as a simple support for a cooking vessel placed over a fire. As a seat or stand, the tripod is the most stable furniture construction for uneven ground, hence its use is universal and ancient.

Tripods had two types and several functions. Firstly, some oracles sat on large tripods to pronounce. Far more common were the tripods and bowls in which smaller sacrifices were burnt. These are particularly associated with Apollo and the Delphic oracle in ancient Greece. These were also given to temples as votive offerings, awarded as prizes in contests associated with religious festivals, and just given as gifts between individuals.