Axinomancy

In his Naturalis Historia (a treaty on Natural History) Plinius, the famous Roman naturalist, already mentions axinomancy as a divination method.

The axe of a logger is used in one of two ways, depending on which of the two possible kinds of query that this method can be used for is wished answered: finding a treasure or uncovering thieves.

To find a treasure, a spherical piece of agate is needed. The blade of the axe is heated with fire and the agate is then placed on it. If the agate remains still, then no treasure exists.

If it falls and rolls, then it must be placed on the blade again three times. If the agate then falls on the same spot every time, this signifies the existence of a treasure – but not when the agate drops and rolls in different spots and directions.

To uncover thieves, the procedure is different. The axe is placed on the ground, balancing it on thick edge of the iron so that the handle sticks up, perpendicular to the ground. A dance is performed around the axe until it moves and falls. The handle will indicate the direction to take in order to give the thieves chase.
In psalm 73 can be found a passage where seers predicted the fall of Jerusalem using axinomancy.
It is a very ancient method, seldom used today, although it is practiced some in the northern areas of the Iberian Peninsula, mainly around Galicia.

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