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Octavian

Octavian, who was obsessed with the Sibylline books.

The Sibylline Books are collections of prophecies that were used during Ancient Rome and of which only fragments have survived, the rest being lost, deliberately destroyed, or misplaced. Ella is the only known reader of the books and Octavian was desperately after them.

History[]

SibylCumae

The Cumaean Sibyl, the author

In the ancient texts, the history of the Sibylline Books is related thus. An old woman once approached Tarquinius Superbus as a guest bearing nine books, which she claimed to contain divine oracles; she desired to sell them. Tarquin asked the price, whereupon the woman demanded an excessive and immense amount of money. The king, as if the woman had grown foolish in her old age, merely derided her. At which she brought forth a lit brazier before him, burned three of the books, and asked the king again whether he wished to purchase the remaining six for the same price. But Tarquin only laughed more, saying that the old woman was without a doubt insane. At that very instant, she immediately burned three others and calmly asked him again to buy the remaining three for that same price. Tarquin's face suddenly grew grave and his mind more attentive, and he began to understand that her steadfastness and audacity was not to be spurned; wherefore he purchased the three remaining books for no smaller a price than that which had been sought for all of them. It is also agreed on that after that woman had departed from him she was never seen in any place again. The three books were placed in a temple and called "the Sibylline Books".

The Heroes of Olympus[]

The Son of Neptune[]

Ella harpy

Ella the harpy, only known reader of the books.

The Sibylline Books are first mentioned when Percy Jackson asks if Camp Jupiter had an Oracle so they could be given a prophecy. Octavian, the augur, remarks that the idea of an Oracle was cute because the camp has never had one. Hazel Levesque then explains to Percy that the Sibylline Books are books of prophecy and that ancient Rome would consult them whenever there were any major disasters. However, it is widely believed the books burned when Rome fell.

Octavian counters that only some people believe that the books burned, but Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano would not authorize a quest (because she is not stupid, according to Hazel). Camp Jupiter has a few scraps of the books safe, engraved on the marble floor of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. One of these prophecies included the Prophecy of Seven, which Percy understands because Rachel Elizabeth Dare had recited it after becoming the Oracle.

Later, after Mars appears to the members of Camp Jupiter, he issues a quest. Octavian approaches him and says they need a prophecy from the Sibylline Books in order to issue a quest. Mars instead writes a prophecy for the quest and says they could add it to their books or engrave it on their floor with the other Sibylline Book's prophecies.

While on their quest to Alaska, Percy, Hazel, and Frank come across a Harpy named Ella, who is being tortured by the blind seer Phineas. While asking her questions, Ella speaks a few lines of prophecy, including the first Great Prophecy, and later, a prophecy about a son of Neptune drowning, but comments that the rest of the page was "burned." Hazel makes the connection that the burned book of prophecies Ella was talking about could be the Sibylline Books and concludes they need to keep her away from Octavian.

After returning to Camp Jupiter and defeating the Giant Army and Polybotes, Percy is elected Praetor, taking away Octavian's chance for power. Percy, Hazel, and Frank agree to protect Ella from Octavian, as with Percy now praetor, Octavian would look for other ways to extend his influence at Camp Jupiter, most likely by using his power of prophecy, and with Ella's knowledge of the Sibylline Books.

The Mark of Athena[]

Annabeth Chase

Annabeth Chase, the demigod whom that prophecy was about.

While the Greeks and Romans are talking about the Prophecy of Seven, Ella recites the prophecy for the Quest for the Athena Parthenos.

The House of Hades[]

In Jason's dream, Rachel Elizabeth Dare told Octavian and Reyna that Ella has been murmuring about the Sibylline Books and that she is the only source to it.

The Blood of Olympus[]

Ella, Tyson, and Rachel frequently visit Camp Jupiter to attempt to recreate the Sibylline Books.

The Trials of Apollo[]

The Hidden Oracle[]

When the Grove of Dodona first reaches out to Apollo in the woods of Camp Half-Blood, it recites "the fall of the sun, the final verse." This is a prophecy from the Sibylline Books that Ella had previously recited as witnessed by Nico di Angelo in a dream. The prophecy refers to Zeus making Apollo mortal and Python cutting off the Oracle of Delphi, Camp Half-Blood's main source of prophecy.

While describing the various Oracles to Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Apollo mentions the Oracle of Cumae who wrote the Sibylline Books of prophecy that Ella had memorized. Chiron explains to Meg McCaffrey that Ella is a very special harpy who had somehow come across a copy of the books which had been believed to be destroyed before the Fall of Rome. Currently, Camp Jupiter is attempting to reconstruct them based on Ella's recollections.

The Dark Prophecy[]

It is mentioned that Ella is at Camp Jupiter helping recreate the Sibylline Books.

The Tyrant's Tomb[]

Apollo has a vision of the Oracle of Cumae during three of the books in front of Tarquin, who reluctantly agrees to be the remaining three. Thousands of years later, Tarquin is looking for the books.

The books themselves are being reconstructed by Ella, who is reconstructing the books by tattooing the context onto Tyson's skin. Ella recites a prophecy regarding the threats from Tarquin, Caligula and Commodus and Apollo uses the Ceremony to Call for Divine Help from the books to summon Diana to help in the Battle of San Francisco Bay. Diana later states that a summons from the Sibylline Books performed on Temple Hill was something that even Jupiter couldn't argue against responding to despite his decree that no god will come to Apollo's aid.

Before leaving camp, Apollo and Meg visit Ella for another prophecy. However, it proves to be only part of one and they realize that they must seek out the rest.

Trivia[]

  • It is hinted that Ella has memorized parts of the Sibylline Books as she also recites prophecies. It is unknown however, where or when Ella read the book.
  • While the Sibylline Books are filled with prophecies that predict important events during the Roman Republic and Empire, Ella remembered reading the first Great Prophecy, a prophecy relating to the Greek demigods of Camp Half-Blood.
  • Octavian states that the books foretold the Prophecy of Seven for several thousand years while Greek demigods have only known about the prophecy for a little less than a year.
  • The books are said to predict the fate of Rome, hence Octavian's desire to obtain them.
  • A fragment of the books predicting the Wikipedia:Battle of Cannae, one of the worst defeats in Roman history, is recorded in Livy's Wikipedia:Ab Urbe Conditā.
Items
Personal Weapons: Riptide | Annabeth's Knife | Backbiter | Master Bolt | Poseidon's Trident | Nico's Sword | Thalia's Spear | Aegis | Ares' Sword | Ares' Shield | Caduceus | Apollo's Golden Bow | Silver Bow | Artemis' Knives | Hades' Sword | Hades' Staff | Kronos' Scythe | Ivlivs | Katoptris | Hazel's Spatha | Frank's Spear | Reyna's Spear | Juno's Gladius | Annabeth's Sword | Sumarbrander | Gungnir | Gjallar | Mjolnir | Gríðarvölr | Khopesh | Mallory's Serrated Knives | Meg's Twin Imperial Gold siccae blades | Thyrsus | Hecate's Torches | Minotaur's Axe | Leroy's Sword | Tyson's Javelin | Alex's Garrote Wire | Piper's Sword
Magical Items: Annabeth's Yankees Cap | Helm of Darkness | Pandora's Pithos | Winged Shoes | Golden Fleece | Flying Chariot | Golden Apple | Apples of Immortality | Greek Fire | Hermes' Multivitamins | Nectar and Ambrosia | Stygian Ice Whistle | Keys of Hades | Leo's Magical Toolbelt | Serapis' Staff | Magic 8 Ball | Arrow of Dodona | Pig Ball | Mechanical Spider | Angel Statues | Athena Parthenos | Chiron's Wheelchair | Diocletian's Scepter | Flaming Dodgeball | Gleipnir | Poseidon's Pearls | Queen Hippolyta's Belt | Mistletoe Arrow | Frank's Stick | Expand-o-Duck | Caligula's Caligae | Ran's Net | Rune Stones | Nábrók | Pomegranate
Spoils of War: Minotaur's Horn | Medusa's Head | Kampê's Scimitars | Nemean Lion's Pelt | Gorgon Blood | Cornucopia | Lydian Drakon Hide | Phineas' Robe and Slippers | Triptolemus's Almanac | Odysseus' Astrolabe
Items: Camp Necklace | Chameleon Armor | Daedalus' Laptop | Golden drachma | Denarius | Red Gold | Mark of Athena | Thalia's Shield | Video Shield | Wristwatch Shield | Golden Mango | Sibylline Books | Letter of Recommendation
Ships Amos' Boat | Argo II | CSS Birmingham | Egyptian Queen | Julia Drusilla Yachts | Pax | Queen Anne's Revenge | Reed Boat | Naglfar | Gorgyra's Canoe
Blessed Metals: Adamantine | Celestial Bronze | Imperial Gold | Stygian Iron | Bone Steel
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