Week 12: Divination

Question 1

What were the 6 Canaanite divination languages?

Answer 1

1. Reading sheep entrails
2. Reading behaviour of sheep
3. Reading movements of a water snake
4. Reading tokens
5. Reading behaviour of birds
6. Reading behaviour of shelducks

Question 2

Define: Diviner:

Answer 2

Somebody that can communicate with the divine through the manipulation of certain objects

Question 3

Define: Ephod

Answer 3

• An Israelite High Priest’s breastplate
• Had 12 sacred stones on it
• Can communicate to YHWH with it

Question 4

What were the Urim and Thumim?

Answer 4

• Israelite tradition
• 2 stones
• You throw them both, if they both land on the same side, it is a divinely correct verdict

Question 5

What was the oldest oracle in the Greek world?

Answer 5

Zeus’ oak tree at Dodona

Question 6

In the Greek world, why are oracles often female?

Answer 6

Because their power to create babies was seen as mystical magic

Question 7

Which deity ruled Delphi before Apollo took over?

Answer 7

Gaia

Question 8

Who did Apollo kill to gain control of Delphi?

Answer 8

Python, Gaia’s serpent monster

Question 9

Which Greek oracle site involved slipping into a small and dark subterranean chamber feet first?

Answer 9

Trophonios’ Oracle at Lebadeia

Question 10

What did one have to do before entering into the cave at Trophonios’ oracle in Lebedaeia?

Answer 10

• You are taken to the river Herecina, where you are washed
• Once you drink the water there, you will be clear of all memory

Question 11

List the Greco-Roman methods of divination: (6)

Answer 11

1. Oracles
2. Dreams
3. Augury
4. Haruscpisy
5. Bibliomancy
6. Astrology

Question 12

Define: Bibliomancy

Answer 12

Looking at random passages in a book, and interpreting them as divine messages

Question 13

List some early Christian methods of divination: (5)

Answer 13

1. Lot casting
2. Onomancy
3. Bibliomancy
4. Astrology
5. Ouija Board

Acronym: OBOLA

Question 14

Horoscopes were first religiously practised by the __________, in the year ___________.

Answer 14

Babylonians

500 BC

Question 15

When do horoscopes first reach the Mediterranean?

Answer 15

100 BC

Question 16

Which famous Roman leader used bibliomancy by consulting the Iliad before battle? What followed?

Answer 16

• Pompey
• Before Pharsallus
• The line says that he would be undone by Apollo
• He ignores it, and loses the battle

Question 17

What book did many Roman Emperors use for Bibliomancy?

Answer 17

Virgil’s Aeneid

Question 18

Define: Omeni oblatine

Answer 18

Omens that come to you

Question 19

Where in Greece was there said to be a direct entrance to Hades?

Answer 19

Death Oracle of Poseidon at cape Tainaron

• Southern most tip of Greece

Question 20

What were the 4 main functions of amulets?

Answer 20

• Erotic (attraction, fertility,
  contraception)
• Healing
• Averting ghosts and demons
• Luck

Question 21

Define: Relics

Answer 21

Remains of, or anything once touched by saints

Question 22

Describe pilgrim flasks:

Answer 22

• Canteens used by pilgrims in the east
• They often had saints depicted on them
• This affirmed their use as amulets, as the icon of the respective saint warded away bad luck and evil

Question 23

True or False: Coins were thought to have had value in the human, AND non-human worlds

Answer 23

TRUE

Question 24

What on coins was seen to protect you in the afterlife?

Answer 24

• The image of a king or ruler

Question 25

True or False: Imitation coins and obsolete old coins are still valid in the underworld

Answer 25

TRUE

Question 26

Why did the Christian Church abhor the idea of relying on an old ruler's image on a coin for protection in the afterlife?

Answer 26

- Because it meant rejecting the sanctity of the Lord, in favour of superstitious hope in the luck of an old pagan ruler

Question 27

What were Gold Foil Bracteates?

Answer 27

- Old, inexpensive coins that were wrapped in a thin layer of gold foil and buried with the dead - Christians often used ancient coins, then outdated, picking symbols that pertained to Christianity (ex. Dove on coins for Aphrodite)

Question 28

Define: Voces magicae

Answer 28

- Incomprehensible, but pronounceable magical formulas, spells and curses - Often used when writing about demons

Question 29

What was the Sethian demon curse tablet, found in Rome?

Answer 29

- A curse tablet found in the Via Appia tombs - Portrayed the dog headed Seth - The victims had their heads bitten off by snakes

Question 30

What is Sympathetic Magic?

Answer 30

- Cursing an image, which thus curses the person - Ex. Vodoo dolls

Question 31

What was an early Christian book describing proper procedures to exorcise a demon?

Answer 31

The Eighth Book of Moses (4th c. AD)

Question 32

What was the spell of Pibechis?

Answer 32

- A Judeo-Christian charm used to exorcise those possessed by demons

Question 33

How does the Eighth Book of Moses tell one to properly exorcise a demon?

Answer 33

If you say the magic name to a man possessed by a demon while applying sulphur and bitumen to his nose, the demon will give voice at once and depart

Question 34

Applying which two materials to a possessed victim's nose will repel the demon within them?

Answer 34

Sulphur Bitumen

Question 35

What was known to the Greeks and Romans as the "sacred disease"?

Answer 35

Epilepsy

Question 36

Why did many Christians defile old pagan statues?

Answer 36

- Christians consider statues to actually be inhabited by pagan gods, and thus, demons

Question 37

After which year does Christian defilement of pagan statues begin?

Answer 37

395 AD

Question 38

How did Mesopotamians view pain?

Answer 38

As a vulnerability to evil forces and demons in the world

Question 39

What was the most comprehensive Mesopotamian medical text?

Answer 39

- Nineveh Medical Encyclopedia

Question 40

Who were the Asu and the Asipu? How did they differ?

Answer 40

- Medical practitioners in ancient Mesopotamia Asu= Practiced HERBAL medicine Asipu= Practiced RITUAL medicine (ex. exorcisms)

Question 41

What was the Maqlu Ceremony?

Answer 41

- 100 incantations and symbolic rites performed through the night - To ward against witchcraft

Question 42

How did the Syro-Canaanites see illness?

Answer 42

- As a punishment from the gods

Question 43

What was the Amphiaraion?

Answer 43

- A healing and oracular sanctuary - The place where a hero, Amphioraias, disappeared from this world -He sends up oracular messages and fumes from the underworld - People would throw coins down the well there

Question 44

What was the Asklepion in Athens?

Answer 44

- Temple to Asklepios - Sick people would come here - Had a snake chamber, where they let out snakes at night to slither among the incubating ill peoples

Question 45

Where were Asklepeions often located?

Answer 45

- Asklepeions are usually located in the centre of cities

Question 45

At which Asklepion was it said that no patients ever died from their illness? Why?

Answer 45

Asklepeion at Pergammon - Because they would kick those about to die out of the sanctuary before they could pass away

Question 45

Where did Asklepios ascend?

Answer 45

Epidauros

Question 46

Asklepios only becomes the centre focus of the Sanctuary at Epidauros in the ________ century BC

Answer 46

4th C. BC

Question 47

Define: Abaton

Answer 47

A covered colonnade used as an incubation chamber for sick people at Asklepeions

Question 48

Which foreign deity was heavily present at the Epidaurus healing sanctuary?

Answer 48

Isis

Question 49

Define: Tamata (Tama)

Answer 49

- Votive offerings of small golden or bronze body part illustrations hung beside an icon of a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church - Ex. if one is blind, they would post a Tamata of eyes beside the icon of a saint