Overview
This lecture discusses the role of diviners in Assyrian society, their methods for interpreting omens, and how their predictions influenced major political decisions.
Role of Diviners in Assyrian Society
- Diviners were essential advisors to the king, consulted before major decisions, especially military ones.
- Their interpretations were believed to reveal the will of the gods.
- Ignoring omens or oracles was thought to bring disaster, similar to swearing a false oath.
Nature and Use of Omens
- Omens were considered reliable and infallible, not superstition, by the Assyrians.
- Records of omens and their outcomes spanned thousands of years.
- Omens derived from remarkable events like eclipses, planetary movements, or unusual features in sacrificial animal livers.
- The outcome of political events was seen as directly linked to preceding omens.
Methods of Divination
- The examination of sheep livers (haruspicy) was a central method; the liver was seen as the seat of thoughts and feelings.
- Clay model livers, like those from Mari (19th to 18th century BC), were used to train new diviners.
- Abnormalities in animal livers or astronomical events were interpreted as messages from the gods.
Omens and Political Outcomes
- Diviners provided kings with omens tied to specific political situations.
- Consistent signs were believed to predict equivalent political events with certainty.
- Deep knowledge of divination was thought to help kings maintain and expand their empire.
Example: Letter to Ashurbanipal
- In the seventh century BCE, a diviner informed King Ashurbanipal about Mars appearing in the month of Ajjaru.
- The omen stated that if Mars appeared in Ajjaru, the Cimmerians (Chyma Aryans) would be defeated in battle.
- Diviners would provide relevant omens and explain their significance to the king's situation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Diviner — a specialist who interprets signs believed to reveal the will of the gods.
- Omen — a phenomenon interpreted as a sign predicting future events.
- Oracle — a message or prophecy from the gods.
- Haruspicy — divination by inspecting the livers of sacrificial animals.
- Ajjaru — a month in the ancient Assyrian calendar.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review methods of Assyrian divination for the next class.
- Read about the reign of Ashurbanipal and his use of omens.