Augury
Generally, the art and practice of divination, covering many forms of it, but applying chiefly to interpretations of the future based on various signs and omens, mostly related to the appearance and behavior of animals, which is called Zoomancy. Also, a promising sign of the future.
Specifically, the art and practice of divination by the observation of the flight patterns, the behavior or the singing of birds. This was a common practice in ancient Rome where Augurs foretold future events by observing and interpreting bird omens, which ranged from the type of bird seen to the direction of its flight, their singing, and so forth. The Romans also used the term augury to divination by eclipses, as well as by thunder and lightning, which was believed to be a direct communication from the god Jupiter.
In ancient Rome Augurs were the officials in charge of observing and interpreting omens for guidance in public affairs. They adopted many of their practices from the older Etruscan culture, passing their intricate system orally from generation to generation.
There was a specific spot on top of the Roman Capitol from which the Augurs, with veiled heads, read the auspices in the flight of birds. Augurs also accompanied Roman armies and fleets, specifically to read the omens before an engagement was entered upon.
As time went by, augury became institutionalized in the Roman Republic, and Augurs were gathered into a formal college (The College of Augurs), along with the pontiffs, who administered public ceremonies, and the keepers of the Sibylline books (a collection of ancient oracular prophecies). The augurs' readings were recorded and stored, with the subsequent outcomes, in secret archives.
See Sorcerer, Radiesthesia, Astrology, Acutomancy, Agalmatomancy, Divination, Coscinomancy, Cleidomancy, Augur, Stoichomancy, Dowsing, Tarot, Heptameron, Demonology, Sortilege, Idolomancy, Demonomancy, Tephramancy, Anemoscopy, Eromancy, Austromancy, Chaomancy, Roadomancy, Capnomancy, Pyromancy, Meteormancy, Ceraunoscopy, Zoomancy, Felidomancy, Horoscope, Horary Astrology, Zodiac, Numerology, Bibliomancy, Casting Black Magic Spells, Commanding Spirits, The Tarot Store, Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies, and The Pyramid Collection.
Sources: (1) Dictionary of the Occult, Caxton Publishing; (2) Zolar, Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Knowledge, Souvenir Press Ltd; (3) Pickover, Clifford A., Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction, Prometheus Books; (4) Dunwich, Gerina, A Wiccan's Guide to Prophecy and Divination, Carol Publishing Group.
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