Publisher's Synopsis
Divination in Babylonia and Assyria Three chief methods: hepatoscopy, astrology and birth-omens Spread of Hepatoscopy and Astrology to Hittites, Etruscans, Greeks and Romans and to China The Transition motif in religious rites and popular customs Omen collections in Ashurbanapal's Library Birth-omen reports Animal Birth-omens Double foetus Principles of interpretation Multiple births among ewes Malformation of ears Excess number of ears Ewe giving birth to young resembling lion Ewe giving birth to young resembling other animals Human Birth-omens Twins Monstrosities Multiple births Malformation of ears Malformation of mouth, nostrils, jaws, arms, lips, hand Malformation of anus, genital member, thigh, feet Principles of interpretation Misshapen embryos Weaklings, cripples, deaf-mutes, still-births, dwarfs Talking infants, with bearded lips and teeth Infants with animal features Study of Human Physiognomy among Greeks and Romans Resemblances between human and animal features Porta's and Lavater's Views Study of Human Physiognomy based on birth-omens Birth-omens in Julius Obsequens Birth-omens in Valerius Maximus Cicero on birth-omens Macrobius on birth-omens Birth-omens among Greeks and in Asia Minor Birth-omens as basis of belief in fabulous and hybrid beings Dragons, Hippocentaurs and hybrid creatures in Babylonian-Assyrian Literature and Art Fabulous creatures of Greek Mythology and Birth-omens Egyptian sphinxes Totemism Metamorphosis of human beings into animals and vice versa Talking animals in fairy tales History of monsters and persistency of belief in monsters Lycosthenes' work
