Zygomancy: Divination by Balance and Weight

Zygomancy is a form of divination in which weights, scales or balances are used to obtain an omen or judgement. The name derives from the Greek zygon, meaning a yoke, pair of scales or balance, combined with manteia, meaning divination or prophecy.

The principle behind zygomancy is that the movement or final position of a balance can reveal something that ordinary observation cannot. Objects may be weighed against one another, sacred items may be incorporated into the procedure, or the behaviour of the scales themselves may be interpreted as a sign.

One unusual tradition involves a person or object being weighed against a Bible. Although this is sometimes linked with bibliomancy, it is more accurately understood as zygomancy when the actual divinatory judgement depends upon weight and balance. Conventional bibliomancy instead seeks an answer through words or passages selected from a book.

The symbolism of the scales gives zygomancy an ancient and powerful atmosphere. Across religion and mythology, balances have represented judgement, truth and the weighing of human worth, from the weighing of the heart in ancient Egypt to later images of divine judgement. In zygomancy, that same instrument becomes an oracle, allowing balance itself to decide what cannot be known with certainty.

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