What Is Belomancy?

by Craig Shrives

Belomancy is divination (i.e., prediction) using the arrows of a bow. Although this might seem a random method of divination, it was remarkable common in ancient times and was practised by the Arabs, Babylonians, Greeks and Scythians.

One method would involve tying different answers to a question to different arrows and then firing them. The answer was taken from the arrow that flew the farthest.

Another method would simply involve shuffling the arrows in a container, like a quiver, and selecting one — a bit like picking straws.

It is unclear whether those performing the belomancy were treating it simply as a method of generating a random answer or as a method of attaining an answer through divine intervention. If the latter, mumbo-jumbo-meter: 9/10.

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