Rhapsodomancy is a word derived from two Greek words:
Rhapsode (ῥαψῳδός): A reciter of epic poetry, especially Homer
Mancy (μαντεία): Divination
Hence, rhapsodomancy literally means "divination by rhapsodes." It is a form of divination involving the interpretation of verses from epic poems, particularly Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.
Origin:
The practice of rhapsodomancy is believed to have originated in ancient Greece.
Rhapsodes would travel from town to town, reciting Homer's epics.
People would request them to open a specific page of the epic and read the first verse they saw.
The verse would then be interpreted as a message or prophecy.
Rhapsodomancy was particularly popular during the Hellenistic period (323-31 BCE).
Method:
A person seeking guidance would ask a rhapsode to open a page of Homer's Iliad or Odyssey at random.
The rhapsode would then read aloud the first verse that appeared on that page.
The verse would be interpreted as a message or prophecy relevant to the person's question or situation.
The interpretation often involved drawing parallels between the events or characters in the verse and the person's own life.
Beliefs and Use:
Rhapsodomancy was based on the belief that the text of Homer's epics contained divine wisdom and guidance.
People consulted rhapsodes for a variety of purposes, including seeking answers to personal questions, predicting the future, or making decisions.
It was often used as a way to discern the will of the gods or to obtain advice in difficult times.
