Learn about itLearn onlyHistorical practice
This page describes the practice. There is deliberately no automated reading for it — see the notes below.
Background
Astragalomancy uses dice marked with letters or numbers; historically these were knucklebones of sheep and goats. Marked astragali are commonly found at Mediterranean and Near Eastern religious and funerary sites.
How it works
The bones are thrown and each side that lands upward has a value; the combination is looked up in a list of answers.
Notes and limits
Safety: Historical bones came from slaughtered animals; use ordinary dice — never harm animals for divination.
At a glance
- Also called
- Cubomancy, Astragyromancy, Knucklebone divination
- Traditions
- Ancient Greek, Near Eastern
- Regions
- Ancient Mediterranean, Middle East & Persia
- You need
- A random draw
- Price
- Free