Ichthyomancy
Alternatively known as Ichyomancy, Icthiomancy, Icthyomancy, Ichthyonomancy, Ichthyomancie, and Ichthyomantia.
Derived from the Greek ikhthus ('fish') and manteia ('divination'), this is an ancient system of divination that draws omens from the observation of fish appearance and behavior (a form of Aruspicy), and also by interpreting fish entrails and their heads characteristics (a form of Augury).
One of the most common methods of Ichthyomancy is by watching the way a fish behaves when it is placed in a consecrated pool, aquarium or bowl.
Tiresias, the blind prophet of Thebes, and Polydamas, lieutenant and friend of Hector during the Trojan War, are said to have been practitioners of Ichthyomancy. In his 'Glossographia' (1656) Thomas Blount mentions Ichthyomancy:
"Ichthyonomancy (Ichthyonomantia) is a divination by fishes."
This type of divination was a popular practice in ancient Babylon, China, Greece and Phoenicia.
See Divination, Demonomancy, 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, Mystic Gifts and Charms - New Age Gift Shop & Wicca and Pagan Supplies, Love Spells -- Use these powerful love spells to help you find and keep your true love, The Chakra Store, The Tarot Store, Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies, Unique Amulets, Talismans, Good Luck Charms, and Love Tokens, Powerful Witch Doctor Spell Kits, Powerful Spells - Cast by Andreika the Witch, Webmasters Make $$$, AzureGreen - Celebrating All Paths to the Divine, ISIS - Tools for Your Soul's Journey, and The Pyramid Collection - Myth, Magick, Fantasy and Romance.
Sources: (1) Dunwich, Gerina, A Wiccan's Guide to Prophecy and Divination, Carol Publishing Group; (2) Spence, Lewis, An Encyclopedia of Occultism, Carol Publishing Group; (3) Dictionary of the Occult, Caxton Publishing; (4) Pickover, Clifford A., Dreaming the Future: The Fantastic Story of Prediction, Prometheus Books; (5) Johnstone, Michael, The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fortune Telling, Arcturus Publishing Limited.
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