A 1st century CE Roman gold and green chalcedony ring engraved with a parrot. The carving is so detailed, the parrot can be identified as an Indian Ringneck known for its bright green plumage. Such parrots surprised Alexander the Great’s entourage in India by talking like humans [6096×3810]

Sold at Christie’s in 2020.

Ravens can be taught to mimic human speech – though parrots are easier to teach.

There is a Roman anecdote involving that, from the life of Octavian (later Augustus).

Allegedly, this occurred after Octavian’s victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. When Octavian returned to Rome, he was greeted by a vast array of well-wishers and sycophants. Among them was a man with a “prophetic” Raven, that croaked out the phrase “Hail Octavian!”. The implication was this bird foretold Octavian’s righteous victory, showed he was beloved by the gods, etc. (Romans were big believers in bird omens).

Octavian was so pleased with this, he purchased the bird for a vast sum in gold.

A couple of days later, another guy with a raven presented himself to Octavian. This guy was very pissed off. According to him, he was the partner of the first guy; each had trained a bird. His bird said “Hail, Antony!”. The deal was, whoever won, the partner with the “correct” bird would present it and solicit a reward … but the guy with the “Hail, Octavian” bird had run off with the money, and did not split the cash.

Octavian saw the funny side to this, and paid an equal fortune for the “Hail, Antony!” Raven.

Finally, a month or so later, yet a third guy presented himself with a raven. This guy, hearing that Octavian was paying for birds that spoke, obtained a raven and tried to teach it various words – but no matter what he did, the bird refused to talk. Eventually, he started exclaiming in frustration, “you are a waste of time and money!” Over and over again, while he tore his hair out … and lo and behold, the Raven stated saying “you are a waste of time and money!”

Octavian also thought this was funny, and bought the third bird (but let it be known that this was the last he’d buy).

Source: Macrobius, *Saturnalia*.