Ornithomancy (modern term from Greek ornis "bird" and manteia "divination"; in Ancient Greek: οἰωνίζομαι "take omens from the flight and cries of birds") is the practice of reading omens from the actions of birds followed in many ancient cultures including the Greeks, and is equivalent to the augury employed by the ancient Romans.
Ornithomancy in some form has been found globally among a wide variety of pre-industrial peoples.[1]
Prophesying by birds appeared among the Hittites in Anatolia, with texts on bird oracles written in Hittite known from the 13th or 14th century,[2] and from whom the Greek practice may derive.[3] It was also familiar to the Etruscans, who may have brought it to Rome.[4]
Greek evidenceedit
Ornithomancy dates back to early Greek times, appearing on Archaic vases, as well as in Hesiod and Homer:[5] one notable example from the latter occurs in the Odyssey, when an eagle appears three times, flying to the right, with a dead dove in its talons, an augury interpreted as the coming of Odysseus, and the death of his wife's suitors. Aeschylus has Prometheus claim to have introduced ornithomancy to mankind, by indicating among the birds “those by nature favourable, and those/Sinister”.[6]
Ornithomancy could be spontaneous, or it could be the result of a formal consultation:[7] the seer would face north, and birds on their right—the east, the direction of sunrise—were taken as favourable (the reverse being true of the Roman augur, who by contrast faced south).[8] Although it was mainly the flights and songs of birds that were studied, any action could have been interpreted to either foretell the future or relate a message from the gods.
Omens from observation of the flight of birds were considered with the utmost seriousness by Romans. The practice of ornithomancy by priests called augurs was a branch of Roman national religion from before the founding of the city, which had its own priestly college to supervise its practice.[9]
The word "inauguration" is derived from the Latin noun inauguratio derived from the verb inaugurare which was to "take omens from birds in flight." Since Roman augurs predominantly looked at birds for omens, they were also called auspex ("bird watcher", plural auspices), however they also interpreted thunder, lightning, the behavior of certain animals, and strange events. The phrase "under the auspices" is derived from this need for a favourable reading of the omens by the augurs.[10][11]
Cultural echoesedit
Lewis Namier introduced his prosopographical study of eighteenth century politics in England with a quotation from Aeschylus on ornithomancy: “I took pains to determine the flight of crook-taloned birds, marking which were of the right by nature, and which were of the left, and what were their ways of living, each after his kind”.[12]
^Sakuma, Yasuhiko (2013). (PDF). Tokyo University Linguistic Papers. 33: 219–238. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
^H. Nettleship ed., A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1891) p. 86
^Ingersoll, Ernest (1923). Birds in legend fable and folklore. Longmans, Green and Co. pp. 212–225.
^Mitchell, James (1908). Significant etymology. William Blackwood and Sons. pp. 16–17.
^Weekley, Ernest (1921). Etymological dictionary of modern English. London: John Murray. p. 90.
^L. R. Namier, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (London 1929) p. ii
^T. D'Elgin, The Everything Bird Book (1998) p. 225
Sourcesedit
Baumbach, Manuel & Trampedach, Kai (2004). "'Winged Words': Poetry and Divination in Posidippus' Oiônoskopika.". In Acosta-Hughes, Benjamin; Kosmetatou, Elizabeth & Baumbach, Manuel (eds.). Labored in Papyrus Leaves: Perspectives on an Epigram Collection Attributed to Posidippus (P. Mil. Vogl. VIII 309). Hellenic Studies Series 2. Washington, DC: Center for Hellenic Studies. ISBN978-0-674-01105-2.
Spence, Lewis, An Encyclopedia of Occultism, New York, Carl Publishing Group Edition, 1996. ISBN0-8065-1401-9
Mandelbaum, Allen, The Odyssey of Homer, New York, Bantam Classic Edition, 1991. ISBN0-553-21399-7
December 18, 2023
ornithomancy, modern, term, from, greek, ornis, bird, manteia, divination, ancient, greek, οἰωνίζομαι, take, omens, from, flight, cries, birds, practice, reading, omens, from, actions, birds, followed, many, ancient, cultures, including, greeks, equivalent, au. Ornithomancy modern term from Greek ornis bird and manteia divination in Ancient Greek oἰwnizomai take omens from the flight and cries of birds is the practice of reading omens from the actions of birds followed in many ancient cultures including the Greeks and is equivalent to the augury employed by the ancient Romans Ornithomancy in some form has been found globally among a wide variety of pre industrial peoples 1 Contents 1 Mediterranean developments 2 Greek evidence 3 Roman practice 4 Cultural echoes 5 See also 6 Notes 7 SourcesMediterranean developments editProphesying by birds appeared among the Hittites in Anatolia with texts on bird oracles written in Hittite known from the 13th or 14th century 2 and from whom the Greek practice may derive 3 It was also familiar to the Etruscans who may have brought it to Rome 4 Greek evidence editOrnithomancy dates back to early Greek times appearing on Archaic vases as well as in Hesiod and Homer 5 one notable example from the latter occurs in the Odyssey when an eagle appears three times flying to the right with a dead dove in its talons an augury interpreted as the coming of Odysseus and the death of his wife s suitors Aeschylus has Prometheus claim to have introduced ornithomancy to mankind by indicating among the birds those by nature favourable and those Sinister 6 Ornithomancy could be spontaneous or it could be the result of a formal consultation 7 the seer would face north and birds on their right the east the direction of sunrise were taken as favourable the reverse being true of the Roman augur who by contrast faced south 8 Although it was mainly the flights and songs of birds that were studied any action could have been interpreted to either foretell the future or relate a message from the gods Roman practice editMain article Augur Omens from observation of the flight of birds were considered with the utmost seriousness by Romans The practice of ornithomancy by priests called augurs was a branch of Roman national religion from before the founding of the city which had its own priestly college to supervise its practice 9 The word inauguration is derived from the Latin noun inauguratio derived from the verb inaugurare which was to take omens from birds in flight Since Roman augurs predominantly looked at birds for omens they were also called auspex bird watcher plural auspices however they also interpreted thunder lightning the behavior of certain animals and strange events The phrase under the auspices is derived from this need for a favourable reading of the omens by the augurs 10 11 Cultural echoes editLewis Namier introduced his prosopographical study of eighteenth century politics in England with a quotation from Aeschylus on ornithomancy I took pains to determine the flight of crook taloned birds marking which were of the right by nature and which were of the left and what were their ways of living each after his kind 12 The magpie counting song is a folklore remnant of ornithomancy 13 See also editCalchas Haruspex Helenus Joris Karl Huysmans Plutarch Parrot astrology Pancha Pakshi ShastraNotes edit A Mouton Luwian Identities 2013 p 329 30 Sakuma Yasuhiko 2013 Terms of Ornithomancy in Hittite PDF Tokyo University Linguistic Papers 33 219 238 Archived from the original PDF on 2015 12 23 Retrieved 2015 12 23 A Mouton Luwian Identities 2013 p 335 40 L Cottrell The Penguin Book of Lost Worlds 2 1966 p 158 D Ogden A Companion to Greek Religion 2010 p 151 Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 1982 p 35 A Mouton Luwian Identities 2013 p 336 H Nettleship ed A Dictionary of Classical Antiquities 1891 p 86 Ingersoll Ernest 1923 Birds in legend fable and folklore Longmans Green and Co pp 212 225 Mitchell James 1908 Significant etymology William Blackwood and Sons pp 16 17 Weekley Ernest 1921 Etymological dictionary of modern English London John Murray p 90 L R Namier The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III London 1929 p ii T D Elgin The Everything Bird Book 1998 p 225Sources editBaumbach Manuel amp Trampedach Kai 2004 Winged Words Poetry and Divination in Posidippus Oionoskopika In Acosta Hughes Benjamin Kosmetatou Elizabeth amp Baumbach Manuel eds Labored in Papyrus Leaves Perspectives on an Epigram Collection Attributed to Posidippus P Mil Vogl VIII 309 Hellenic Studies Series 2 Washington DC Center for Hellenic Studies ISBN 978 0 674 01105 2 Spence Lewis An Encyclopedia of Occultism New York Carl Publishing Group Edition 1996 ISBN 0 8065 1401 9 Mandelbaum Allen The Odyssey of Homer New York Bantam Classic Edition 1991 ISBN 0 553 21399 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ornithomancy amp oldid 1184216790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
