Belomancy


Belomancy, also bolomancy, is the ancient art of divination by use of arrows. The word is built upon, and μαντεία,, 'divination'. Belomancy was anciently practiced at least by Babylonians, Greeks, Arabs and Scythians.

Practice

Arrows were typically marked with occult symbols, with feathers for every known method. In one example, 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 idea, but instead without shooting arrows. They would simply be shuffled in a 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.

History

Use of belomancy dates to ancient times; it is likely mentioned in the Book of Ezekiel 21:21, shown below in the original Hebrew and translated to English in the New American Standard Bible:
Jerome agrees with this understanding of the verse, and observes that the practice was frequent among the Assyrians and Babylonians.

Islam

Verse 3 of Surah Al-Ma'idah in the Qur'an forbids belomancy, while verse 90 of Surah Al-Ma'idah states literally

Pre-Islamic Arabia

Belomancy is also attested in pre-Islamic Arab religion. In his Book of Idols, early Muslim historian Ibn al-Kalbi mentions that there were seven divination arrows in front of the statue of Hubal in the Kaaba.

Works cited

Category:Divination
Category:Book of Ezekiel
Category:History of archery