Résumé :
Abstract
Procopius of Caesarea inserts numerous events of symbolic and prognostic character in his Gothic Wars. In Bella 5(1).20.1-4 he describes a game of competition between young Samnite shepherds imitating the current political situation. The loser was hung from a tree by them taking the common Late Roman punishment on the furca as a model. Due to the contingent appearance of a wolf he was not rescued and died. The tragic event is subsequently attributed predicting significance.