Greek Alphabet Divination

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Greek Alphabet Divination
By: / Knowledgeable
Post # 1
The ancient Greeks used a method of divination similar to the Norse runes. Each letter would be drawn individually on something like wood or pottery shards. The diviner would ask a question and then draw one or more letters from a pile. They would then interpret the meaning based on the phrase associated to the letter.

The phrases and their letters are as follows

Alpha-the god Apollo says you will do everything successfully

Beta-with the help of Tyche you will have an assistant

Gamma-Gaea will give you the ripe fruits of your labors

Delta-in customs inopportune strength is a weakness

Epsilon-you desire to see the offsprings of righteous marriages

Zeta-flee the great storm lest you be disabled in some way

Eta-bright Helios who watches all watches you

Theta-you have the helping Gods of this path

Iota-there is sweat it excels more than everything

Kappa-to fight with the waves is difficult endure my friend

Lambda-the one passing on the left bodes well for everything

Mu-it is necessary to labor but the change will be admirable

Nu-the strife bearing gift fulfills the oracle

Xi-there is no fruit to take from a withered shoot

Omicron-there are no crops to be reaped that were no sown

Pi-completing many contests you will seize the crown

Rho-you will go on more easily if you wait a short time

Sigma-Apollo speaks plainly "stay friend"

Upsilon-the affair holds a noble undertaking

Phi-after having done something carelessly you will blame the Gods

Khi-succeeding fried you will fulfill a golden oracle

Psi-you have the righteous judgement of the Gods

Omega-you will have a difficult harvest season not a useful one
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
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Post # 2
Where can I find more info on this and/or what is this form of divination called?
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
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Post # 3
That's interesting, never heard of it. Can you post a link?
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
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Post # 4
Very, very interesting. I would love to know more on this method. I have heard of it frequent times yet seem to find little information on it.

Do you mind if perhaps I message you on this subject, Ambrosia?

I found this video which might be of worth to those interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0qfinZ5sTo
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
By: / Knowledgeable
Post # 5
Ya feel free to message me. I believe this method was first referenced on the Greek Magical Papyri found in Egypt. Here is a site with more information.

http://web.eecs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/GAO.html
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
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Post # 6
Well done. :)
Are these your personal interpretations or are you taking them from another source?
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
By: / Knowledgeable
Post # 7
The interpretations are from the Greek Magical Papyri I believe. It was a text discovered in Egypt some time ago. My personal view is a bit mixed on it.
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
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Post # 8
Aw, that's quite interesting that they were found in Egypt. Do you have any insight as to what they were doing there?
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
By: / Knowledgeable
Post # 9
That's actually a very easy question to answer. Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and after his death the Ptolemys (who were Greek) ruled the land. They made Greek the language of the upper class and brought many Hellenic (Greek) ideas to the Egyptians. Naturally the religions mingled giving us the Greco Egyptian faiths of Alexandria and other port cities. That is part of the reason why I generally take issue with many of the things found in the Papyri. They simply seem too Egyptian for my liking.
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Re: Greek Alphabet Divination
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Post # 10
lol All you had to say was it had to do with Alexander the Great.
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