Bloody sacrifice and divination in Psellos’ Περὶ Θυτικῆς in comparison: Ancient Druids´ customs and a pseudo-Pythagorean tabula
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24310/mhnh.vi20.16039Abstract
The writing assigned to Michael Psellos (ed. O’ Meara 1989) offers remarks for divinatory ends drawn from bloody sacrifice. In particular, the author states that direction of falling
and last spasms of animal victims were examined. This predictive method is unknown to Greek hieroscopy, but we find points of comparison with Greek sources (Diodorus Siculus,
Strabo) about such customs relating to Celtic human sacrifice enacted by druids. The title of a pseudo-Pythagorean tabula remonting to Palaiologan times from Ms. Laur. 28, 14 seems
to allude to a very likely divinatory technique. Therefore, it is useful to analyze these items concerning a mantic system founded upon convulsions of victims.
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