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Final: Ancient Religions > Week 12: Divination > Flashcards

Week 12: Divination Flashcards

1
Q

What were the 6 Canaanite divination languages?

A
  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
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2
Q

Define: Diviner:

A

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

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3
Q

Define: Ephod

A
  • An Israelite High Priest’s breastplate
  • Had 12 sacred stones on it
  • Can communicate to YHWH with it
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4
Q

What were the Urim and Thumim?

A
  • Israelite tradition
  • 2 stones
  • You throw them both, if they both land on the same side, it is a divinely correct verdict
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5
Q

What was the oldest oracle in the Greek world?

A

Zeus’ oak tree at Dodona

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6
Q

In the Greek world, why are oracles often female?

A

Because their power to create babies was seen as mystical magic

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7
Q

Which deity ruled Delphi before Apollo took over?

A

Gaia

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8
Q

Who did Apollo kill to gain control of Delphi?

A

Python, Gaia’s serpent monster

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9
Q

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

A

Trophonios’ Oracle at Lebadeia

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10
Q

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

A
  • You are taken to the river Herecina, where you are washed
  • Once you drink the water there, you will be clear of all memory
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11
Q

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

A
  1. Oracles
  2. Dreams
  3. Augury
  4. Haruscpisy
  5. Bibliomancy
  6. Astrology
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12
Q

Define: Bibliomancy

A

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

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13
Q

List some early Christian methods of divination: (5)

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

Acronym: OBOLA

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14
Q

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

A

Babylonians

500 BC

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15
Q

When do horoscopes first reach the Mediterranean?

A

100 BC

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16
Q

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

A
  • Pompey
  • Before Pharsallus
  • The line says that he would be undone by Apollo
  • He ignores it, and loses the battle
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17
Q

What book did many Roman Emperors use for Bibliomancy?

A

Virgil’s Aeneid

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18
Q

Define: Omeni oblatine

A

Omens that come to you

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19
Q

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

A

Death Oracle of Poseidon at cape Tainaron

  • Southern most tip of Greece
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20
Q

What were the 4 main functions of amulets?

A
  • Erotic (attraction, fertility,
    contraception)
  • Healing
  • Averting ghosts and demons
  • Luck
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21
Q

Define: Relics

A

Remains of, or anything once touched by saints

22
Q

Describe pilgrim flasks:

A
  • 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
23
Q

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

24
Q

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

A
  • The image of a king or ruler
25
True or False: Imitation coins and obsolete old coins are still valid in the underworld
TRUE
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?
- Because it meant rejecting the sanctity of the Lord, in favour of superstitious hope in the luck of an old pagan ruler
27
What were Gold Foil Bracteates?
- 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)
28
Define: Voces magicae
- Incomprehensible, but pronounceable magical formulas, spells and curses - Often used when writing about demons
29
What was the Sethian demon curse tablet, found in Rome?
- A curse tablet found in the Via Appia tombs - Portrayed the dog headed Seth - The victims had their heads bitten off by snakes
30
What is Sympathetic Magic?
- Cursing an image, which thus curses the person - Ex. Vodoo dolls
31
What was an early Christian book describing proper procedures to exorcise a demon?
The Eighth Book of Moses (4th c. AD)
32
What was the spell of Pibechis?
- A Judeo-Christian charm used to exorcise those possessed by demons
33
How does the Eighth Book of Moses tell one to properly exorcise a demon?
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
34
Applying which two materials to a possessed victim's nose will repel the demon within them?
Sulphur Bitumen
35
What was known to the Greeks and Romans as the "sacred disease"?
Epilepsy
36
Why did many Christians defile old pagan statues?
- Christians consider statues to actually be inhabited by pagan gods, and thus, demons
37
After which year does Christian defilement of pagan statues begin?
395 AD
38
How did Mesopotamians view pain?
As a vulnerability to evil forces and demons in the world
39
What was the most comprehensive Mesopotamian medical text?
- Nineveh Medical Encyclopedia
40
Who were the Asu and the Asipu? How did they differ?
- Medical practitioners in ancient Mesopotamia Asu= Practiced HERBAL medicine Asipu= Practiced RITUAL medicine (ex. exorcisms)
41
What was the Maqlu Ceremony?
- 100 incantations and symbolic rites performed through the night - To ward against witchcraft
42
How did the Syro-Canaanites see illness?
- As a punishment from the gods
43
What was the Amphiaraion?
- 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
44
What was the Asklepion in Athens?
- 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
45
Where were Asklepeions often located?
- Asklepeions are usually located in the centre of cities
45
At which Asklepion was it said that no patients ever died from their illness? Why?
Asklepeion at Pergammon - Because they would kick those about to die out of the sanctuary before they could pass away
45
Where did Asklepios ascend?
Epidauros
46
Asklepios only becomes the centre focus of the Sanctuary at Epidauros in the ________ century BC
4th C. BC
47
Define: Abaton
A covered colonnade used as an incubation chamber for sick people at Asklepeions
48
Which foreign deity was heavily present at the Epidaurus healing sanctuary?
Isis
49
Define: Tamata (Tama)
- 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

Final: Ancient Religions (6 decks)

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