Astragaloi
Astragaloi are the four-sided hind knuckle bones of sheep, cows, and goats that were used in Ancient Greece for divination and games. Ceramic replicas are acceptable too! Modern Hellenic Pagans use them mostly for divination.
They were cast onto a table or dice tray. This tray was set on a table in front of an image of a god/goddess, usually Apollon or Hermes. Just as dice were used for games, so were astragaloi.
The sides of an astragalos
| Side name | Image |
|---|---|
| Khios | |
| Koios, khios, coan, chios | |
| Huptios | |
| Pranes |
How to do an astragaloi reading
Questions asked are usually asking for advice. Both formats of the divination are more complex than yes/no.There are at least two ways to do readings, based on two sources: Oracle Bones Divination: The Greek I Ching by Kostas Dervenis (questionable title, but useful book), and John Opsopaus’ book Oracle of Apollo and website. I personally prefer to use Dervenis’ system for astragaloi. I just read a source I'll mention later so this is subject to change.
Standard procedure
- Roll 5 astragaloi or one astragalos 5 times
- Read numerical value of downward (Opsopaus) or topmost (implied in Dervenis) face
- Faces marked by shape
- You can mark the faces with pips or alphabet too
Opsopaus' style
- Add values of downward faces of all 5 rolls
- Roll with hands, dice cup, or dice tower
- Blow into your hand after you pick up lots to inspire divination
Dervenis style
- Add values of topmost faces of all 5 rolls
- Look up the answer by the total number obtained in his book, and by the exact number of each side (i.e. 3 khios, 1 huptios, and 1 pranes)
Reconstructionist astragaloi
We don't know a lot about how astragaloi were actually used, but we have the possible answers from engravings. Opsopaus references this but seems to take a lot of liberties. This is a table I made from Fritz Graf's chapter "Rolling the Dice for an Answer" in Mantikê edited by Sarah Iles Johnston and Peter T. Struck.
| Numerical values of each roll | Total numerical value | Name of Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11111 | 5 | Zeus Olympios | If you see only chians: Zeus will give good thinking to your mind, stranger: he will grant happiness to your work, for which you will give thanks. But appease Aphrodite and the son of Maia. |
| 11113 | 7 | Athena Areia | If 4 chians and 1 three are cast, the god signals: By avoiding enmity and animosity, you will reach your prize; you will arrive and the blue-eyed goddess Athena will save you. The activity that you have in mind will turn out as you wish it. |
| 41111 | 8 | Moirai | If 1 four and 4 chians in a row are cast: Don't do the business that you are engaged in; it will not turn out well. It will be difficult and impossible around someone who tires himself out. But if you go abroad for some time, no harm will come from it. |
| 33111 | 9 | Zeus' Eagle | If 2 threes and 3 chians are cast: A high flying eagle on the right-hand side of the traveller will be a good omen; with the help of Greatest Zeus (Zeus Megistos), you will achieve your goal; do not fear. |
| 61111 | 10 | Daimôn Megistos | If 1 six and 4 chians in a row: It will be better to fulfill whatever vow you made to the daimôn, if you intend to perform what you ponder in your mind. Demeter and Zeus will save you. |
| 11143 | 10 | Caring Fortune | If 3 are chians, 1 a four and the fifth a three: Do not do the business you are about to do; as for the very intention (var. "illness") you have, the gods are restraining it, but they will free you from your toil and no harm will meet you. |
| 33311 | 11 | Victory | If 3 threes are cast, and further 2 chians: You will win (var. "make gains"), you will take what you wish, and you will achieve everything; the daimôn will make you honored, and you will overcome your enemies; the plan that you are about to realize will be according to your desire. |
| 44111 | 11 | Joyful Victory | If 2 fours and 3 chians in a row are cast: Do all your business, because it will turn out well. The gods will save him who is ill from his bed; also the god announces that he who is in another country will return home. |
| 41133 | 12 | Asklepios | If 1 four, 2 chians and 2 threes are cast: A storm will come about your business, but it will turn out well; also the god announces that he will free the one who is ill from his suffering; and the gods will bring safely home the one who is abroad. |
| 11163 | 12 | Steering Tyche | 3 chians, a six, and the fifth throw a three: Do not yet make haste to go; it is impossible to go, rather wait; if you set out to rush mindlessly, you will do great damage to yourself, but if you wait, blameless time will accomplish everything. |
| 11164 | 13 | Aphrodite | 3 chians and a six and the fifth a four: Sail wherever you wish; you will return full of joy, for you have found and accomplished everything that you ponder in your mind; but pray to Aphrodite and the son of Maia (Hermes). |
| 13333 | 13 | Zeus and Athena (var. Zeus Kataibates) | If 1 chian and 4 threes are cast: You are fit for every business and ready for any undertaking. The gods will easily save him who is ill, and all will be well as to the other oracles. |
| 33331 | 13 | The Seasons | ] and impossible [---]; (first two lines are lost) the god does not allow the plan that you follow, thus wait: it is terrible to walk into enmity, competition and a trial. |
| 13334 | 14 | Poseidon | 1 chian, 3 threes, and 1 four: The god announces: You kick against the goad, you struggle against the waves, you search for a fish in the sea: do not hasten to do business. It does not help you to force the gods at the wrong time. |
| 61133 | 14 | Daimôn | 1 six, 2 chians, and a pair of threes. Do not project terrible things, and do not pray for what is against the gods, thinking terrible thoughts. There will accrue no gain from it, and no reward will come from this path you are walking. |
| 44411 | 14 | Agathos Daimôn | If 3 fours and 2 ones are cast: The daimôn will lead you on the way that you undertake, and the lover of smiling, Aphrodite, will lead you toward good things. You will return with rich fruit and an untroubled Fate. |
| 13344 | 15 | Zeus the Savior | 1 chian, 2 threes, 2 fours being cast: Approach with courage the business that you set out to do; do it! You will win, since the gods have given you these favorable signs, and do not avoid them in your intention: nothing bad will come from it. |
| 11166 | 15 | Zeus Ammon | If 3 ones and 2 sixes are cast: The god announces to you: Undertake with courage the way you set out in your mind, god will give you everything: you will accomplish whatever your mind tells you, and Zeus, thundering high, will be with you as your savior. |
| 33333 | 15 | Tyche the Savior (var. "Good Fortune/Good Tyche") | If all the threes are cast together: The woman who has given birth to a child, had both breasts dry, but she again flourished and has milk in abundance. Then you too will reap the fruits about which you ask me. |
| 43611 | 15 | Zeus Xenios | A four, a three, a six and 2 chians: Do not make haste with the business for which you set out, it is not yet time. The gods will easily save him who is ill, and the god announces that he will make an end to the travel of him who is in foreign land. |
| 63331 | 16 | Herakles | 1 six, 3 threes and the fifth a chian: The moment has not yet arrived, you make too much haste. Do not act in vain, nor like the bitch (var. "lion") that has borne a blind puppy. Deliberate calmly, and the god will lead you. |
| 64411 | 16 | Ares | 1 six, 2 fours, and a 2 chians: Why do you hurry? Wait calmly, the moment has not yet come; if you hurry without sense and in vain, you pursue something that is not yet ready. I do not yet see the right moment, but you will have success when you wait a little while. |
| 43333 | 16 | Kronos | 1 four is cast, the other 4 are threes: Scorpions stand in your way, do not hurry towards the business that you intend; wait, and what you wish will arrive later; neither to buy this nor to sell is better. |
| 44413 | 16 | Apollon (perhaps Delphic) | 3 fours, 1 chian, and the fifth a three: Do not make haste; it will not be better to go; when you wish to rush mindlessly, you will damage yourself very much; but when you stay put, blameless time will perform everything. |
| 66113 | 17 | Isis the Savior | A double six, 2 chians and the fifth a three: Enter and receive the voice from the tripod! The time is also ripe for marriage; you will marry and return home. You will achieve whatever you want in your business, having found the thing about which you are anxious. |
| 16334 | 17 | Hermes the Savior | A chian, a six, 2 threes and the fifth a four: I do not see anything painful among the things about which you ask me; do not think small, go forward with courage; you will find everything you wish: your vow will be fulfilled, and there is a perfect occasion for you. |
| 44333 | 17 | Serapis | If 2 fours are cast and 3 threes: Take courage and fight, Zeus Ktesios is your helper. You will punish your opponent and have him under your fist, and he will give happiness to the works for which you thank him. |
| 14444 | 17 | Nemesis | When a single chian is cast, and the others are fours: Now the daimôn will fulfill everything for you and lead you the right way. You will perform everything according to your mind, do not wear yourself out anymore. You will achieve beautifully whatever you desire. |
| 66114 | 18 | Adrasteia | If 2 sixes, 2 chians, and the fifth a four: Do your business and undertake it; the time will be favorable. In the middle (var. "at the beginning"), difficulties and danger are waiting. As to the other oracles, things will turn out well for you. |
| 16443 | 18 | Zeus of the Lightning | A chian and a six, 2 fours and the fifth a three: What you plan will not turn out according to your liking, when you do it; it is not useful to travel to foreign lands. You will show no insight if you sell now, nor will it be useful. |
| 44433 | 18 | The Greatest Daimôn (var. "of the Supplicant") | If there are 3 fours and 2 threes, he signifies this: I do not see this plan as safe for you; thus wait. You will do well, after this there will be luck; as for now remain calm, trust the gods and stay hopeful. |
| 63333 | 18 | Good Time | A six and 4 threes together; the oracle announces thus: Do not make haste, the daimôn is opposed to you, rather wait and do not act like a dog (var. 'lion") that gave birth to a blind litter. Take counsel calmly, and things will turn out happily for you. |
| 66133 | 19 | Good Hope | 2 sixes, a chian and 2 threes; he signifies this: Everything about which you ask me is smooth riding for you and safe; do not be afraid, a daimôn will lead you towards everything; he will end the painful difficulties and you will disprove the suspicions. |
| 44461 | 19 | Zeus of Possessions | 3 fours, 1 six, and the fifth a chian: Proceed with courage, the oracle is about hope, stranger; it announces also that the sick person will be saved. If you need to consult an oracle, you will receive what you desire. |
| 34444 | 19 | Hermes Who Brings Gain in Trade | If 1 three and 4 fours are cast: Zeus will give a good plan to your mind, stranger; thus, all will be well, undertake what you desire; you will find whatever you ask the oracle for, and nothing will be bad for you. |
| 33364 | 19 | Nike | 3 threes, 1 six and the fifth a four: You pronounce a good oracle, stranger; once you have thought it through, you will do whatever you desire, and the god will be your helper; you will win, you will reap the fruits, and you will achieve everything. |
| 44444 | 20 | The Inexorable Moirai | If all four are cast together in the same way: The sun has gone down, and terrible night has come, everything has become dark. Interrupt the matter about which you ask me; it is neither better to buy nor to sell. |
| 43661 | 20 | Selene (var. Nemesis or Helena) | A four and a three, 2 sixes, and the fifth a chian: Do not undertake this business, stranger; it will not turn out well for you. The god announces that he will help the one who is ill; and if there is any fear, nothing bad will happen to you. |
| 63344 | 20 | The Protecting Dioskouroi | Alone the six, 2 threes, the others fours: A man who makes haste does not achieve what opportunity offers. You have a profit, and there is fear everywhere because of evil; your business is ill-fated, and everything is painful; watch out! |
| 66611 | 20 | Hephaistos | 3 sixes and 2 chians; he will tell the following: It is impossible to do business; do not toil in vain! And do not turn every stone, lest you chance upon a scorpion. Fussiness will not bring you luck, be on your guard for all sorts of misfortune! |
| 66441 | 21 | Demeter | A pair of sixes, 2 fours, the fifth a chian: Everything about which you ask me is on a smooth way for you and safe; do not be afraid, a daimôn will lead you towards everything; I see nothing that will bring you harm; take heart and go forward. (var. "He will free you from difficult grief, he will free you from suspicion") |
| 44463 | 21 | Helios, Bringer of Light | 3 fours, 1 single six, and the fifth a three: You will achieve whatever you desire, and you will find whatever you worry about. Make an attempt, stranger, having taken heart; everything is ready; you will find what is invisible, you will come to the day of salvation. |
| 33366 | 21 | Tyche who Leads to Good Things | When 3 threes are cast and 2 sixes, he announces this: Your matters are doing well; this oracle tells you to press forward; you will get away from difficult illness and master everything, and the god announces that he who is erring in a foreign land will return. |
| 16663 | 22 | The Manifest Fates | 1 chian, 3 sixes, the fifth being cast is a three: Do not put your hand into a wolf's mouth, lest some harm happens to you; the matter about which you ask is difficult and delicate; but you stay quiet, avoiding travel and business transactions. |
| 44446 | 22 | Poseidon | If all that are cast are fours, but the fifth is a six, he announces this: Throwing seeds and writing letters on the sea are both pointless toil and fruitless doing; since you are mortal, do not force a god who might harm you. |
| 43366 | 22 | Terrible Ares | Four and 2 threes, 2 sixes, and he announces this: Do not undertake the travel that you intend, stranger! Nobody will do it. A large fiery lion is about, against whom you have to be on your guard, a terrible one. The oracle is untractable, wait quietly. |
| 16664 | 23 | Athena | 1 chian, 3 sixes, and the fifth a four: Honor Pallas Athena, and you will get everything, whatever you wish, and everything which you are planning will turn out well; she will free from bonds and will save the sick person. |
| 66443 | 23 | Happiness | If 2 sixes are cast and 2 fours, and the fifth is a three: Sail, wherever you want, you will return home again, having found and done everything according to your wish; you will achieve everything, and thus to buy and to trade is happiness. |
| 66633 | 24 | Apollo Pythios | If 3 sixes and 2 threes are being cast, he signifies this: Stay put, do not act, obey Phoibos' oracles. With time, you will find an occasion, but for now stay quiet. If you wait a short while you will achieve everything, whatever you desire. |
| 44466 | 24 | Kronos the Child Eater | 3 fours, 2 sixes; the god announces this to you: Stay at home with your possessions and do not go somewhere else, lest a terrible monster and a vengeful demon approach you. I do not see this business as reliable and safe. |
| 46663 | 25 | Mên Who Brings Light (var. Mother of the Gods) | 1 four being cast, 3 sixes and the fifth a three: Take courage; you have an opportunity; you will achieve what you desire, and you will come upon the right time to begin your travel; your toil will have its chance; it is good to engage in work, competition and litigation. |
| 66661 | 25 | Mother of the Gods (var. Mên Who Brings Light) | 4 sixes, the fifth a chian: he signifies this: As wolves overpower sheep and powerful lions overpower broad-hoofed oxen, so you too will master all this, and everything about which you ask will be yours, with the help of Zeus' son Hermes. |
| 66644 | 26 | Subterranean Zeus (Hades) | When 3 sixes and 2 fours, the oracle announces: The business has its obstacles, do not make haste, but wait; there is a road, painful, impossible and not to be approached; to buy is difficult and to sell brings loss. |
| 66663 | 27 | Heavenly Aphrodite | 4 sixes, the three alone; he signifies this to you: The daughter of Uranus, Aphrodite, the mighty mistress of the Erotes, sends a good oracle, she will grant travel to you; you will escape from sickness and vainglorious thoughts. |
| 66664 | 28 | Damage | 4 sixes, a four: he signifies this: It is impossible to undertake something in vain; do not in vain toil uselessly, lest you incur damage by pressing on. It is not good to begin travelling nor doing business. |
| 66666 | 30 | Square Hermes | If all that are cast together are sixes: Do not go, wherever you intend to; it will be better for you to stay; I see something hostile to you, thus wait; afterwards, it will be possible, and (the god) will free you from fear and save you from toil (var. "As to the things you are asking me, I foresee disgraceful fame for you; stay quiet, interrupt travel and business transactions"). |
Tips for using astragaloi
If you use real bones, make sure to thank the animal for the bones! Perhaps also a deity (Artemis, maybe?). You can also make them from wood/clay!
Sources and further reading
- Fritz Graf's chapter "Rolling the Dice for an Answer" in Mantikê edited by Sarah Iles Johnston and Peter T. Struck
- Oracle of Apollo by John Opsopaus
- Opsopaus' website
- Oracle Bones Divination: The Greek I Ching by Kostas Dervenis