Divination in Mesopotamia<br />Prepared by: M.M. Raya Nasif Jasim<br />Al-Mustaqbal University, College of Arts and Humanities, Department of Archaeology<br />Email: [email protected]<br /><br />Divination is closely intertwined with religious beliefs and social customs, as it represents communication with higher powers—namely, the gods. In ancient Mesopotamia, the quest to know the hidden and foresee one’s future preoccupied people’s minds, motivating practices of divination. They believed the gods possessed both the ability and the will to reveal what was sought, knowing that the deity held answers to all questions weighing on human thought. Consequently, divination in Mesopotamia held immense importance because of its direct connection to a person’s life and destiny.<br /><br />Texts addressing divinatory subjects are themselves major achievements of Mesopotamian culture. The methods employed revealed many aspects of what lay ahead and helped us understand facets of ancient belief systems. Scholars categorize divination into two primary types based on methodology: “empirical divination” and “magical divination.” Each approach employs its own specialized tools and rituals designed to connect with the gods.<br /><br />Empirical (Practical) Divination<br />This form of divination uses systematic, “scientific” techniques to establish contact with higher powers. In these methods, the priest (the diviner) prepares the conditions and atmosphere conducive to the ritual. When the deity’s will manifests in the signs, it confirms the success of the divinatory act. Notable techniques include:<br /><br />Casting Lots (Ḫubtû)<br />These are small, grooved arrow-like sticks resembling awls, used by the Babylonians to seek the gods’ counsel on specific matters. One of the primary uses of this method was to allocate temple revenues among priests holding equal rank.<br /><br />Oil on Water (Šamnu ša Awīlī)<br />This ancient practice, known from the reign of King Urukagina (c. 24th century BCE), involved pouring oil onto water. The practitioner, known as apkallu šamni (“oil diviner” or “oil sage”), traditionally traced his lineage to King Enmeduranki. Observing the movement and behavior of oil droplets allowed the diviner to interpret the gods’ messages.<br /><br />Smoke (Incense) Divination (Bārû ša Qutrenni)<br />The earliest attestation of this technique dates to the late third millennium BCE, when Shulgi, king of the Third Dynasty of Ur (2094–2047 BCE), proudly claimed mastery of incense divination. Incense was considered an offering to the gods, and the diviner who practiced this form was called bārû ša qutrenni (“incense diviner”). By studying the rising smoke patterns and their behavior, the diviner discerned the gods’ will regarding future events.<br /><br />Flour Omens (Bārû Ša Í₃-ZÍZ)<br />This divinatory method involved interpreting the texture and behavior of pure flour. It appears only in a unique cuneiform text dating to the Late Babylonian period (first millennium BCE). The Sumerian term ZÍZ and its Akkadian counterpart kunāšu (“pure flour”) designate this practice. The so-called “flour omens” texts preserved in cuneiform tablets provided instructions for priests to discern divine messages by analyzing flour’s appearance and behavior.<br />Al-Mustaqbal University – The Premier University in Iraq.<br/><br/><a href=https://www.facebook.com/people/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84/61552843173512/ target=_blank>Al‑Mustaqbal University Media</a>