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Divination (Ancient Near Eastern)


Subject Religion » Ancient Near East Religions

Key-Topics divination

DOI: 10.1111/b.9780631181392.1995.x


Extract

[viii] Regarded as a supreme science, divination was used as a practical guide in all human affairs. Omens were consulted before battle, in personal matters or to determine a god's anger, and omen texts are an invaluable source of political and other information [13: 160–4; 23: 20–2; 24: 346, 449–51]. Probably first devised by the Sumerians, divination became increasingly important in the Old Babylonian period (c. 1700 bce) and was inherited by the Hittites. Augury (looking for signs in nature), lottery and extispicy (the excision and examination of animal entrails to foretell events) were employed, but later Astrology challenged extispicy as the favourite method. ... log in or subscribe to read full text

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