Crithomancy (also known as critomancy) is a form of
divination by the study of
barley
Barley (''Hordeum vulgare''), a member of the grass family, is a major cereal grain grown in temperate climates globally. It was one of the first cultivated grains, particularly in Eurasia as early as 10,000 years ago. Globally 70% of barley ...
cakes
in hope of drawing
omens
An omen (also called ''portent'') is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change. It was commonly believed in ancient times, and still believed by some today, that omens bring divine messages fr ...
from them. The paste of cakes which are offered in
sacrifice is closely examined, and the sought-for answers are drawn from the flour which is spread upon them.
It was in use among the
aborigines that lived in the Americas.
The native tribes in what is now
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States. It is the list of U.S. states and territories by area, 6th largest and the list of U.S. states and territories by population, 14 ...
would have used a mixture of powdered grains as ritual sacrifice every morning and carried it around with them as well.
The term ''crithomancy'' (from Greek κριθή ''krithḗ'') is also used for divination by
cereal grains
A cereal is any grass cultivated for the edible components of its grain (botanically, a type of fruit called a caryopsis), composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran. Cereal grain crops are grown in greater quantities and provide more food ...
. The ancient Greek priests would have thought of as divining through the use of corn grains.
The soothsayer would scatter the grains on either freshly sacrificed or soon to be sacrificed animals and read them for omens.
There were also incidents of this form of divination identified in
ancient Egypt and
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
where medicine men would take signs from the shapes of randomly drawn grains of corn.
See also
*
Alphitomancy
Alphitomancy (from , and ) is a form of divination involving barley cakes or loaves of barley bread.
When someone in a group was suspected of a crime, the members of the group would be fed barley cakes or slices of barley bread. Supposedly, the ...
References
Divination
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