Product Code Database
Example Keywords: world of -gloves $97-183
   » » Wiki: Sortes Homericae
Tag Wiki 'Sortes Homericae'.
Tag

Sortes Homericae
 (

Rank: 100%
Bluestar Bluestar Bluestar Bluestar Blackstar
The Sortes Homericae (Latin for "Homeric lots"), a type of by , involved drawing a random sentence or line from the works of (usually the ) to answer a question or to predict the future. In the Roman world it co-existed with the various forms of the sortes, such as the Sortes Virgilianae and their Christian successor the .

There are numerous examples of lines from the Iliad being premonitions of things to come. Socrates reportedly dreamed of a certain verse from the Iliad, and interpreted it as foretelling the day of his execution.He dreamt of a woman quoting a slightly modified line from ' speech ( Iliad 9.363) - "In three days you would reach fertile Phthia", where (Φθίη) evokes the root of the noun φθίσις ‘decay, withering away’ and its related verb φθίω ‘decay, perish.’ Before the Battle of Pharsalus, a verse of Homer occurred to Brutus which suggested that would be defeated. Iliad 16.849 - "By the cruel crown of Fate I was undone / And by the rancor of Latona's son. This story is reported in Plutarch (Brutus 24.4-7), Appian (4.134.564), and Valerius Maximus (1.5.7)" 's son was , and "Apollo" was the password of Pompey's forces on the day of the battle. The emperor () is known to have used sortes Homericae properly speaking, where a verse was chosen by lot that supposedly foretold his fate that he would not last long on the imperial throne." Iliad 8.102 – Old man, these tough young fighters are too strong, / And age won't let you hold on very long."


Homer Oracle
The "Homer Oracle", or Homeromanteion, was a method of divination preserved in Greek Magical Papyrus VII, Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 56.3831, and Papyrus Bononienses 3. The oracle consisted of excerpts from Homer's poetry sorted by triple digits. After a series of ritual preparations, the user rolls a die three times, consulting a verse according to the resultant number for a total of 216 possible results. PMG VII. 1–148 as preserved is given in the Oxford Classical Text translations:
+ PMG VII. 1–148 The Homer Oracle: !Line !Roll !Lot !Reference
1.1-1-1But on account of their accursed bellies they have miserable woes,Od. 15.344
2.1-1-2neither to cast anchor stones nor to attach stern cables,Od. 9.137
3.1-1-3being struck by the sword, and the water was becoming red with blood.Il. 21.21
4.1-1-4......
5.1-1-5stood holding a scepter, which Hephaistos produced by his labors.Il. 2.101
6.1-1-6......
7.1-2-1amends I wish to make and to give a boundless ransom.Il. 9.120; 19.138
8.1-2-2surely then the gods themselves have mined your mind.Il. 7.360; 12.234
9.1-2-3......
10.1-2-4......
11.1-2-5be let it lie in the great hall. And I wish for your happy arrivalOd. 15.128
12.1-2-6......
13.1-3-1......
14.1-3-2......
15.1-3-3But Zeus does not accomplish for men all their purposes.Il. 18.328
16.1-3-4I would even wish it, and it would be much betterIl. 3.41; Od. 11.358; 20.316
17.1-3-5Then indeed would he smash all your fine show,Od. 17.244
18.1-3-6I also care about all these things, woman. But very terriblyIl. 6.441
19.1-4-1......
20.1-4-2speaking good things, but they were contriving evil things in their hearts.Od. 17.66
21.1-4-3The glorious gifts of the gods are surely not to be cast aside,Il. 3.65
22.1-4-4......
23.1-4-5......
24.1-4-6These things, Zeus-nurtured Skamander, will be as you order.Il. 21.223
25.1-5-1a joy to your enemies, and a disgrace to yourself?Il. 3.51
26.1-5-2Within this very year, Odysseus will arrive here,Od. 14.161; 19.306
27.1-5-3No use indeed to you, since you will not lie clad in them,Il. 22.513
28.1-5-4And to the victor are to go the woman and the possessions.Il. 3.255
29.1-5-5the rule of the many is no good. Let there be one ruler.Il. 2.204
30.1-5-6And the gateway is full of ghosts, and full also is the courtyard,Od. 20.355
31.1-6-1We have won great honor. We have killed glorious Hektor,Il. 22.393
32.1-6-2Who would undertake and complete this task for ?Il. 10.303
33.1-6-3Not even if his gifts to me should be as numerous as the grains of sand and panicles of dust,Il. 9.385
34.1-6-4......
35.1-6-5......
36.1-6-6......
37.2-1-1For no island is made for driving horses or has broad meadows,Od. 4.607
38.2-1-2in the past, when you were boys, did you listen to yourOd. 4.688
39.2-1-3......
40.2-1-4......
41.2-1-5......
42.2-1-6His gifts are hateful to me, and I honor him not a whit.Il. 9.378
43.2-2-1an only beloved heir to many possessions,Il. 9.482; Od. 16.19 (?)
44.2-2-2......
45.2-2-3......
46.2-2-4......
47.2-2-5So they thronged about him. And nearOd. 24.19
48.2-2-6and fashioning lies out of what nobody could see.Od. 11.366
49.2-3-1be valiant, that later generations may also speak well of you.Od. 1.302
50.2-3-2leaning on the grave marker over a barrow heaped up by menIl. 11.171
51.2-3-3go. You have a way, and beside the sea your shipsIl. 9.43
52.2-3-4You will be proved a liar, and will not go on to fulfill your word.Il. 19.107
53.2-3-5And his mother for her part continued the lament amid a flood of tears,Il. 22.79
54.2-3-6Not even if remaining for five or six yearsOd. 3.115
55.2-4-1So he spoke, and ordered Paion to administer a cure.Il. 5.899
56.2-4-2These things, unhappy man, will I accomplish and do for you.Od. 11.80
57.2-4-3How can you propose to render toil useless and ineffectual?Il. 4.26
58.2-4-4a thing delayed, late of fulfillment, whose fame will never perish.Il. 2.325
59.2-4-5Sooner would you grow weary and return to your native land.Od. 3.117
60.2-4-6to go, that he may bring poisonous drugs from there,Od. 2.329
61.2-5-1Husband, you departed from life young, and me behind as a widowIl. 24.725
62.2-5-2in which way I will for sure accomplish everything and how it will be brought to pass,Il. 9.310 (?)
63.2-5-3Offer me not honey-tempered wine, honored mother,Il. 6.264
64.2-5-4......
65.2-5-5......
66.2-5-6Do not orphan your son and make your wife a widow.Il. 6.432
67.1-6-1would that they might now eat their last and final meal here.Od. 4.685
68.2-6-2It is not meet for a man who speaks in the Council to sleep all the night through,Il. 2.24
69.2-6-3What's wrong with you, that you took this wrath into your heart?Il. 6.326
70.2-6-4But who knows if he will one day return and punish them for their violent deeds?Od. 3.216
71.2-6-5wives I will provide for both and furnish possessionsOd. 21.214
72.2-6-6we may try the bow and complete the contest.Od. 21.180
73.3-1-1For it's no reproach to flee evil, nor by night.Il. 14.80
74.3-1-2Be mindful of every form of valor. Now you needs mustIl. 22.268
75.3-1-3as a widow at home. And the boy is still just a baby,Il. 22.484; cf. 24.726
76.3-1-4But do you in no wise enter the moil of Ares,Il. 18.134
77.3-1-5For amid misfortune mortals quickly grow old.Od. 19.360
78.3-1-6......
79.3-2-1......
80.3-2-2Such a man is not alive nor will be born,Od. 6.201
81.3-1-3Of a truth, child, there's nothing really wrong with this,Il. 18.128
82.3-1-4Now is it no longer possible for him to find escape from us,Il. 22.219
83.3-2-5we will ransom with bronze and gold, for it is within.Il. 22.50
84.3-2-6drink, and do not vie with younger men.Od. 21.310
85.3-1-1where are you fleeing, turning your back like a craven in the ranks?Il. 8.94
86.3-3-2Would that such a man be called my husbandOd. 6.244
87.3-3-3plants her head in heaven and walks upon the earth.Il. 4.443
88.3-4-4But Zeus does not accomplish for men all their purposes.Il. 18.328
89.3-3-5and nodded for his army to survive and not to perish.Il. 8.246
90.3-3-6Would that you had not pled with the noble son of Peleus,Il. 9.698
91.3-4-1Honey-sweet wine has the best of you, which others alsoOd. 21.293
92.3-4-2Act in whatever way your mind is moved, and no longer hold back.Il. 22.185
93.3-4-3For it is fated for both to turn the same ground redIl. 18.329
94.3-4-4keep on shooting like this, if haply you mar become a light to the DanaansIl. 8.282
95.3-4-5as there is no one who could keep the dogs off your head,Il. 22.348
96.3-4-6You will not kill me, since I am for sure not subject to Fate.Il. 22.13
97.3-5-1staying right here you would help me watch over this houseOd. 5.208
98.3-5-2Get out of the gateway, old man, or it won't be long before you're dragged out by the foot.Od. 18.10
99.3-5-3Better for a man to escape evil by flight than to be caught.I/. 14.81
100.3-5-4and declare to no one, neither man nor woman,Od. 13.308
101.3-5-5of wheat or barley. And the heaps fall thick and fast.Il. 11.69
102.3-5-6Whatever sort of word you speak, such would you hear.IL.20.250]
103.3-6-1was opposed to giving Helen to tawny Menelaos,Il. 11.125
104.3-6-2or will you alter your purpose? The hearts of the good are flexible.Il. 15.203
105.3-6-3Yet I for one never doubted, but at heartOd. 13.339
106.3-6-4Eurpachos, it will not be so. And even you know it.Od. 21.257
107.3-6-5You miserable foreigner, you have no sense at all.Od. 21.288
108.3-6-6And the father granted him one thing, but denied him the other.Il. 16.250
109.4-1-1Nay, go to your chambers and tend to your own work,Od. 1.356
110.4-1-2Now then, do not even tell this to your wife.Od. 11.224 (alternate version)
111.4-1-3would you have been stoned to death for all the wrongs you've done.Il. 3.57
112.4-1-4you prayed to the immortals to see with a beard grown.Od. 18.176
113.4-1-5and vow to Lycian-born Apollo the famous archerIl. 4.101
114.4-1-6and no spirit of harmony unites wolves and sheep,Il. 22.263)
115.4-2-1Come now, let us make these concessions to one another,11.4.62]
116.4-2-2And in the throng were Strife and Uproar, and Fate-of-Death,Il. 18.535
117.4-2-3......
118.4-2-4Up, rush into battle, the man you have always claimed to be.Il. 4.264
119.4-2-5......
120.4-2-6You baby, what use now to keep your bow idle?Il. 21.474
121.4-3-1For even fair-tressed Niobe turned her mind to food,Il. 24.602
122.4-3-2after giving a mass of bronze and gold and raimentOd. 5.38
123.4-3-3Surely then the journey will not be useless or fail to occur.Od. 2.273
124.4-3-4One omen is best, to defend your country.Il. 12.243
125.4-3-5I will gild her horns all round and sacrifice her to you.Il. 10.294
126.4-3-6and you would gain every Trojan's thanks and praise,Il. 4.95
127.4-4-1put in with your ship, sillee women are no longer trustworthy.Od. 11.456
128.4-4-2It is not possible or proper to deny your request.Il. 14.212
129.4-4-3would straighrway fit his will to your desire and mine.Il. 15.52
130.4-4-4and give him instruction. And it will be beneficial for him to obey.Il. 11.7x9
131.4-4-5will give glory to me, and your soul to horse-famed Hades.Il. 5.654
132.4-4-6fill up his ship with gold and bronze aplenty,Il. 9.137
133.4-5-1but tell one part, arid let the other be concealed.Od. 11.443
134.4-5-2and at birth Zeus sends a weight of misery.Il. 10.71
135.4-5-3alone to have intelligence, but they are flitting shades.Od. 10.495
136.4-5-4yielding to his indignation. But they now withheld from him the giftsIl. 9.598
137.4-5-5I rejoice at hearing what you say, son of Laertes.Il. 19.185
138.4-5-6But Zeus causes men's prowess to wax or to wane,Il. 20.242
139.4-6-1a terrible man. He would be quick to blame even the blameless.Il. 11.654
140.4-6-2with all haste. For now would you capmre the broad-wayed cityIl. 2.66
141.4-6-3Endure now, my heart. An even greater outrage did you once endure,Od. 20.18
142.4-6-4You lunatic, sit still and listen to the word of others,Il. 2.200
143.4-6-5had cast aside wrath and chosen friendship.Il. 16.282
144.4-6-6so good it is for a son to be left by a deadOd. 3.196
145.5-1-1Here then, spread under your chest a veil,Od. 5.346
146.5-1-2'Tis impiety to exult over men slain.Od. 22.412
147.5-1-3through immortal night, when other mortals sleep?Il. 24.363
148.5-1-4How then could I forget divine Odysseus?Od. 1.65
149.5-1-5lurid death and o'erpowering doom laid hold ofIl. 5.83
150.5-1-6So there's nothing else as horrible and vile as a womanOd. 11.427
151.5-2-1Let u? not advance to fight the Danaans around the ships.Il. 12.216
152.5-2-2to put up a defense, when some fellow provokes a fight.Il. 24.369; Od. 16.72; 21.133
153.5-2-3nor do children at his knees call him "papa"Il. 5.408
154.5-2-4I am this very man, back home now. And after many toilsOd. 21.207
155.5-2-5Talk not like this. there'll be no change beforeIl. 5.218
156.5-2-6let him stay here the while, even though he's eager for Ares.Il 19.189
157.5-3-1And do not, exulting in war and battle,Il. 16.91
158.5-3-2never to have gone to bed with her and had intercourse,Il. 9.133; 19.176
159.5-3-3and moistens the lips, but fails to moisten the palate.Il. 22.495
160.5-3-4Take heart! Let these matters not trouble your thoughts.Il. 18.463
161.5-3-5But this mad dog I'm unable to hit.Il. 8.299
162.5-3-6Keep quiet, friend, and do as I say.Il. 4.412
163.5-4-1Bad deeds don't prosper. The slow mall for sure overtakes the swift,Od. 8.329
164.5-4-2They shut fast and locked the doors of the hall.Od. 21.236
165.5-4-3Ah, poor man! Death's not at all on your mind,Il. 17.201
166.5-4-4Odysseus has come and reached home, though he was long in coming.Od. 23.7
167.5-4-5in full he will accomplish it at last, and the penalty they pay is great,I1. 4.161
168.5-4-6and therein was Strife, and therein Valor, and therein chilling Attack,Il. 5.740
169.5-5-1but 'tis most wretched to die and meet one's doom by starvation.Od. 12.342
170.5-5-2shall I be laid low when I die. But good repute is now my goal,Il. 18.121
171.5-5-3Up, rush into battle, the man you have always claimed to be.Il. 4.264
172.5-5-4In no way do I mock you, dear child, nor am I playing tricks.Od. 23.26
173.5-5-5but she stayed Alkmene's labor and stopped her from giving birth.Il. 19.119
174.5-5-6But come, and hereafter I shall make amends for this, if now anything wrongIl. 4.362
175.5-6-1Where are you two rushing? What causes the heart within your breast to rage?Il. 8.413
176.5-6-2Pray now, let him not be too much on your mind.Od. 13.421
177.5-6-3But the gods do not, I ween, give men all things at the same time.Il. 4.320
178.5-6-4Talk not like this. There'll be no change beforeIl. 5.218
179.5-6-5So he spake, but did not move the mind of Zeus by saying this.Il. 12.173
180.5-6-6but Odysseus nodded no and checked him in his eagerness.Od. 21.129
181.6-1-1How can you want to go alone to the ships of the Achaians?Il. 24.203
182.6-1-2him a bridegroom in his house, who left as only child a daughterOd. 7.65
183.6-1-3And too, I've taken the mist from your eyes, which before was there,Il. 5.127
184.6-1-4we may try the bow and complete the contest.Od. 21.180
185.6-1-5And I know that my arrival was longed for by you twoOd. 21.209
186.6-1-6I shall dress him in a mantle and a tunic, fine garments.Od. 16.79; 17.550; 21.339
187.6-2-1by fastening a noose sheer from a high rafter,Od. 11.278
188.6-2-2remembering our excellence, of the sort that even weOd 8.244
189.6-2-3the sea's great expanse they cross, since this is the Earthshaker's gift to them.Od. 7.35
190.6-2-4Nay, come on with the bow. You'll soon be sorry for obeying everybody.Od. 21.369
191.6-2-5But hurry into battle, and rouse the other soldiers.Il. 19.139
192.6-2-6For mighty Herakles, not even he escaped his doom,Il. 18.117
193.6-3-1amends I wish to make and to give a boundless ransom.Il. 9.120; 19.138
194.6-3-2And let him stand up among the Argives and swear an oath to youIl. 19.175
195.6-3-3The man is nearby. Our search will not be long, if you are willingIl. 14.110
196.6-3-4and not quite suddenly, and a very god should be the cause?Od. 21.196
197.6-3-5Verily, these things have already happened, and not otherwise couldIl. 14.53
198.6-3-6On now, follow close! In action numbers make a difference.Il. 12.412
199.6-4-1surely then the gods themselves have ruined your mind.Il. 7.360; 12.234
200.6-4-2Take heart, and let your thoughts not be of death.Il. 10.383)
201.6-4-3by her wailing she rouse from sleep her household servants,XI. 5.413
202.6-4-4Come now in strict silence, and I shall lead the way,Od. 7.30
203.6-4-5are there ears for hearing, and sense and respect are dead.Il. 15.129
204.6-4-6as he was growing old. But the son did not grow old in his father's armor.Il. 17.197
205.6-5-1to return home and behold the day of homecoming.Od. 5.220; 8.4663
206.6-5-2Apollo of the silver bow did strike the one, still sonless,Od. 7.64
207.6-5-3then you may hope to see your loved ones and reachOd. 7.76
208.6-5-4As for you two, I will tell you exactly how it will be.Od. 21.212
209.6-5-5For so shall I proclaim, and it will be accomplished too.Il. 1.212
210.6-5-6and I shall send him wherever his heart and spirit urge him.Od. 16.81; 21.342
211.6-6-1idiot? You'll soon pay when the swift hounds devour youOd. 21.363
212.6-6-2You would learn what mighty hands I have to back me up.Od. 20.237; 21.202
213.6-6-3In no wise do I think he will in that event take you for himself, nor is it proper.Od. 21.322
214.6-6-4here we gather, waiting day after day.Od. 21.156
215.6-6-5to reach decision making secret plans. Nor yet now to meIl. 1.542
216.6-6-6Don't dare get it into your mind to escape from me, Dolon.Il. 10.447
Here end the verses of the Homer oracle. May it help you!
(1986). 9780226044446, University of Chicago Press.


Sources

Page 1 of 1
1
Page 1 of 1
1

Account

Social:
Pages:  ..   .. 
Items:  .. 

Navigation

General: Atom Feed Atom Feed  .. 
Help:  ..   .. 
Category:  ..   .. 
Media:  ..   .. 
Posts:  ..   ..   .. 

Statistics

Page:  .. 
Summary:  .. 
1 Tags
10/10 Page Rank
5 Page Refs