Psellos’ Treatise On Sacrifice: Hieroscopy and Astrological Influence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24310/mhnh.vi19.15412Keywords:
Chiromancy, Melothesia, Astrology, SacrificeAbstract
The Byzantine treatise assigned to Michael Psellos and edited by D. J. O’ Meara (1989) is a noteworthy witness about Greek sacrifice and Hieroscopy. This writing is very relevant given that any inquiry founded upon entrails was prohibited since the age of Constantine the Great. Hieroscopy seemingly disappeared in Byzantine times. However, Psellos describes the inquiry de extis in his Chronographia and Historia Syntomos, with reference respectively to Vardas Phokas and Costantine V Kopronymos (´Turdyman´). Therefore, it is useful to translate this work and consider link with divinatory pseudo-sciences of Byzantine times. We may stress similarities with astrology as well as with omoplatomancy, the method by examining bones of the shoulder-blade of a victim. These prophecies represent Medieval heritage of Ancient splanchnomancy.
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