Belomancy
Encyclopedia
Belomancy, also bolomancy, is the ancient art of divination
by use of arrow
s. Belomancy was anciently practised at least by Babylonians, Greeks
, Arab
s and Scythians.
The arrows were typically marked with occult
symbols and had to have feathers for every method. In one method, different possible answers to a given question were written and tied to each arrow. For example, three arrows would be marked with the phrases, God orders it me, God forbids it me, and the third would be blank. The arrow that flew the furthest indicated the answer. Another method involves the same thing, but without shooting the arrows. They would simply be shuffled in the quiver
, worn preferably on the back, and the first arrow to be drawn indicated the answer. If a blank arrow was drawn, they would redraw.
This was an ancient practice, and probably that mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel
21:21, shown below in the original Hebrew, and translated to English in the New American Standard Bible
,
St. Jerome agrees with this understanding of the verse, and observes that the practice was frequent among the Assyria
ns and Babylon
ians. Something like it is also mentioned in Hosea
4:12, although a staff or rod is used instead of arrows, which is rather rhabdomancy
than belomancy. Grotius, as well as Jerome, confounds the two together, and shows that it prevailed much among the Magi
, Chaldea
n, and Scythians, from which it passed to the Slavonia
ns, and then to the Germans, whom Tacitus
observes to make use of it.
A lost traveller might also use belomancy to find his way, by tossing the arrow into the air, and letting its angle show him the way.
The Book of Mormon
describes an oracle known as the Liahona
which consisted of two spindles in a brass ball. One of the spindles would point the direction of travel. Writings would also appear on this device.
Divination
Divination is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic standardized process or ritual...
by use of arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
s. Belomancy was anciently practised at least by Babylonians, Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s and Scythians.
The arrows were typically marked with occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
symbols and had to have feathers for every method. In one method, different possible answers to a given question were written and tied to each arrow. For example, three arrows would be marked with the phrases, God orders it me, God forbids it me, and the third would be blank. The arrow that flew the furthest indicated the answer. Another method involves the same thing, but without shooting the arrows. They would simply be shuffled in the quiver
Quiver
A quiver is a container for arrows. Quivers have been traditionally made of leather, bark, wood, furs and other natural materials; modern quivers are often made of metal and plastic....
, worn preferably on the back, and the first arrow to be drawn indicated the answer. If a blank arrow was drawn, they would redraw.
This was an ancient practice, and probably that mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel
Book of Ezekiel
The Book of Ezekiel is the third of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah and preceding the Book of the Twelve....
21:21, shown below in the original Hebrew, and translated to English in the New American Standard Bible
New American Standard Bible
The New American Standard Bible , also informally called New American Standard Version , is an English translation of the Bible....
,
- "For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver."
St. Jerome agrees with this understanding of the verse, and observes that the practice was frequent among the Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
ns and Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
ians. Something like it is also mentioned in Hosea
Book of Hosea
The Book of Hosea is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It stands first in order among what are known as the twelve Minor Prophets.-Background and Content:...
4:12, although a staff or rod is used instead of arrows, which is rather rhabdomancy
Rhabdomancy
Rhabdomancy is a type of divination by means of any rod, wand, staff, stick, arrow, or the like.One method of rhabdomancy was setting a number of staffs on end and observing where they fall, to divine the direction one should travel, or to find answers to certain questions. It has also been used...
than belomancy. Grotius, as well as Jerome, confounds the two together, and shows that it prevailed much among the Magi
Magi
Magi is a term, used since at least the 4th century BC, to denote a follower of Zoroaster, or rather, a follower of what the Hellenistic world associated Zoroaster with, which...
, Chaldea
Chaldea
Chaldea or Chaldaea , from Greek , Chaldaia; Akkadian ; Hebrew כשדים, Kaśdim; Aramaic: ܟܐܠܕܘ, Kaldo) was a marshy land located in modern-day southern Iraq which came to briefly rule Babylon...
n, and Scythians, from which it passed to the Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
ns, and then to the Germans, whom Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
observes to make use of it.
A lost traveller might also use belomancy to find his way, by tossing the arrow into the air, and letting its angle show him the way.
The Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
describes an oracle known as the Liahona
Liahona
According to the Book of Mormon and other Latter Day Saint movement sources, the Liahona is a brass ball that operated as a type of compass with two spindles. One of the spindles was said to point the direction Lehi and his party should travel after their escape from Jerusalem. The Book of Mormon...
which consisted of two spindles in a brass ball. One of the spindles would point the direction of travel. Writings would also appear on this device.