TsTarotsi

manzia

Daphnomancy

Daphnomancy describes divination involving laurel, often in accounts of its burning.

How to approach it

Understanding this practice involves identifying the period, place and source describing it. A preserved object, a literary account and a later reconstruction offer different kinds of information.

An important distinction

Historical dictionaries record beliefs about the sound of burning laurel; they do not establish that the sound foretells events.

An example to explore

Study an illustration of laurel and its symbolism in a story without recreating ritual burning.

Taking the idea further

To explore further, compare the related concepts and note differences in material, procedure and interpretation. If you open a related tool, read its own rules; sharing a symbol does not mean carrying out the same practice.

Explore oracles and divination

Sources for further reading