Alectormancy

Alectormancy (also known as Alectromancy, Alectoromancy or Alectryomancy, derivation comes from the Greek words "alectryon" and "manteia", which mean rooster and divination respectively) is a form of divination in which a bird is subjected to random picking of corn grains from a circle of letters and any divination that involves roosters. Alectormancy is also sacrificing a sacred rooster.

Roosters were commonly used for predictions in different parts of the world, and over the ages different methods were used. The most common and popular form of this divination based on the observation of a rooster eating corn scattered on letters. This practice was used when the sun or the moon was in Aries or Leo. A circle of letters (originally twenty-four in number, since j, v are the same as i, u) was traced on the ground and laid out with some sort of grain placed on each letter. Next a rooster, usually a white one, was let pick at the grains, thus selecting letters to create a divinatory message or sign. The chosen letters could be either read in order of selection, or rearranged to make an anagram. Sometimes readers got 2 or 3 letters and interpreted them. Additional grains replaced those taken by the rooster.

In Africa, a black hen or a gamecock is used. An African diviner sprinkles grain on the ground and when the bird has finished eating, the seer interprets the designs or patterns left on the ground.

Another method of alectormancy, supposedly used less often, was based on reciting letters of the alphabet noting those at which a cock crows. Letters were recorded in sequence and then these letters were interpreted as the answer to the question chosen by seers.

A rare, obsolete meaning of alectormancy is "a divination by a cock-stone". A cock-stone or alectoria was "a christall coloured stone (as big as a beane) found in the gyzerne, or maw of some cockes" (Cotgrave). These stones, purportedly found in a roosters crop, were known to the Romans (in Latin they were called alectoria gemma, literally "cock's gem") and were imputed with magical powers. Apparently, they were used for some sort of lithomantic divination, though the details of this use are not to be found.

Alectormancy was also used in Ancient Rome to identify thieves.

See also

* Divination
* Methods of divination

References

* [http://www.occultopedia.com/a/abacomancy.htm Alectormancy]
* [http://dewarlorx.com/divination.htm Divination Glossary]
* [http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/2725/?letter=M&spage=1 Word Info]