ABSTRACT
There were many forms of Greek divination, and it could be practised by observing the flight and behaviour of birds, interpreting everyday phenomena such as a sneeze or utterance, or inspecting the entrails of beasts – diurnal experiences, many of which could be directly elicited. But divination for the ancient Greeks had a nocturnal dimension as well, that of the mind in sleep, uncluttered by the daily congestion of activities, emotions and thoughts. Dreams, by contrast, were a definitive form of divination. Dreams were also valuable in health conditions and 'predicting' cures: in the cults of Amphiaraos and Asklepios, all those who slept in their shrines hoped that they would experience a dream whatever their socio-economic status or their background. Other types of divination involved books or dice, or the surface of water, which could be employed by ordinary individuals at little cost or inconvenience.
