Oinomancy
Encyclopedia
Oinomancy is a form of divination
conducted by examining patterns in wine
. An ancient technique, oinomancy was performed by a priestess known as a Bacchante
, and protected by Bacchus
, the Roman god
of wine. Oinomancy is still practiced today, but is rare in the United States.
Oinomancy could be performed in a number of ways:
Divination
Divination is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic standardized process or ritual...
conducted by examining patterns in wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
. An ancient technique, oinomancy was performed by a priestess known as a Bacchante
Maenad
In Greek mythology, maenads were the female followers of Dionysus , the most significant members of the Thiasus, the god's retinue. Their name literally translates as "raving ones"...
, and protected by Bacchus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
, the Roman god
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
of wine. Oinomancy is still practiced today, but is rare in the United States.
Oinomancy could be performed in a number of ways:
- Wine is spilled on cloth or paperPaperPaper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
, and the resulting stains are studied. - Cloth or paper is soaked or boiled in wine, and the resulting appearance of the material is studied.
- The appearance of wine being poured as an offering during a libationLibationA libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid as an offering to a god or spirit or in memory of those who have died. It was common in many religions of antiquity and continues to be offered in various cultures today....
is studied. - The sediment in the bottom of a glass or bottle of wine is studied.
- The physical features (color, taste, etc.) of wine are studied.