Cassius Dio, Roman Histories  50.8.1-3  (ca. A.D. 220): Such was the enthusiasm of the two sides [of Antonius and Caesar Octavianus] and such were their preparations; meanwhile many and divers rumours were noised abroad by men, and many clear portents were shown by the gods. For example, an ape entered the temple of Ceres during a service and upset everything in it; an owl flew first into the temple of Concord and then to practically all the other most holy temples, and finally, when it had been driven away from every other place, it settled upon the temple of the Genius Populi, and it was not only not caught, but did not depart until late in the day. The chariot of Jupiter was demolished in the Circus at Rome, and for many days a torch would rise over the sea toward Greece and dart up into the sky. Much damage was also caused by storm; thus, a trophy which stood upon the Aventine fell, a statue of Victory fell from the back wall of the theater, and the wooden bridge was utterly destroyed. And many objects were destroyed by fire also, and moreover there was a huge flow of lava from Aetna which damaged cities and fields. (E. Cary, trans.)