Augury Collection

The Magic Mirror revealing its secrets. 18th century (cabalistic/alchemical manuscript La Tres Sainte Trinosophie)
532101 The Magic Mirror revealing its secrets. 18th century (cabalistic/alchemical manuscript La Tres Sainte Trinosophie); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Witch summoning up a monster. This was supposed to have happened in front of Marcomir, King of the Franks
530453 Witch summoning up a monster. This was supposed to have happened in front of Marcomir, King of the Franks. Woodcut from Sebastian Munster Cosmographia universalis, Basle

Daniel's, one of the four great Hebrew prophets, vision of the beasts. Copperplate engraving 1804
532107 Daniel's, one of the four great Hebrew prophets, vision of the beasts. Copperplate engraving 1804; (add.info.: Daniel's, one of the four great Hebrew prophets)

Romulus Consulting the Augury (engraving)
669593 Romulus Consulting the Augury (engraving) by Leech, John (1817-64); Private Collection; (add.info.: Romulus Consulting the Augury)

A Way of Telling the Future, engraved by Mlle. Formentin, 1824-27 (litho)
STC89225 A Way of Telling the Future, engraved by Mlle. Formentin, 1824-27 (litho) by Grevedon, Henri (1776-1860) (after); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; French, out of copyright

Aruspice, from L Antique Rome, pub. 1796 (colour litho)
STC386354 Aruspice, from L Antique Rome, pub. 1796 (colour litho) by Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Jacques (1757-1810) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Engraved by Labrousse; Pub)

The Devil, in form of a flying goat, carrying a witch to the Sabbath
531194 The Devil, in form of a flying goat, carrying a witch to the Sabbath, illustration from Compendium Maleficarum by Francesco Maria Guazzo, 1608 (woodcut) by Italian School

The augurs of Cicero (chromolitho)
3100679 The augurs of Cicero (chromolitho) by Spanish School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The augurs of Cicero)

Witches destroying a house by fire, Swabia in 1533, illustration from
530458 Witches destroying a house by fire, Swabia in 1533, illustration from Compendium Maleficarum by Francesco Maria Guazzo, 1608 (woodcut) by Italian School

Witches and sorcerers feasting at the Sabbath, illustration from
530457 Witches and sorcerers feasting at the Sabbath, illustration from Compendium Maleficarum by Francesco Maria Guazzo, 1608 (woodcut) by Italian School

Fragment of Divining Bone (shell)
5049824 Fragment of Divining Bone (shell) by Chinese School, Shang Dynasty (13th-11th century BC); 3.8 high cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; Chinese, out of copyright

Bird of Portent, an illustration from L Odyssee, by Homer
STC386307 Bird of Portent, an illustration from L Odyssee, by Homer, translated by Victor Berard, 1929-33 (colour litho) by Schmied

A military attack plotted in accordance with the phases of an eclipse
STC89654 A military attack plotted in accordance with the phases of an eclipse, illustration from a book on the Ottoman campaigns in Europe

Romulus consulting the Augury, 1852. Artist: John Leech
Romulus consulting the Augury, 1852. From The Comic History of Rome, by Gilbert A A Beckett, illustrated by John Leech. [Bradbury, Agnew & Co, London, 1852]

Roman augurs. An augur was a priest and official in ancient Rome who interpreted omens by observing the behaviour of birds. Cassells Illustrated Universal History, published 1883

Romulus Receiving Augury 17th century Pen brown ink
Artokoloro

The Witches Sabbath. Engraving after David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690)

The Devil, in form of a flying goat, carrying a witch to the Sabbath. From Francesco Maria Guazzo Compendium Maleficarum Milan 1608. Woodcut

Saul and the Witch of Endor Bible I Samuel 28. Saul tries to communicate with the dead Samuel through the Witch of Endor. She brings Samuel out of the earth (Necromancy)

The Magic Mirror revealing its secrets: from 18th century cabalistic / alchemical manuscript
The Magic Mirror revealing its secrets: from 18th century cabalistic/alchemical manuscript La Tres Sainte Trinosophie

Daniel, one of the four great Hebrew prophets, interpreting the writing on the wall at Belshazzar king of Babylons feast, Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin (You are weighed in the scales and found wanting)

Daniels, one of the four great Hebrew prophets, vision of the beasts: Four
Daniel s, one of the four great Hebrew prophets, vision of the beasts: Four great Beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. Bible: Daniel 7:3. Copperplate engraving 1804

Kate and Sue having fortunes read in the cards (Cartomancy), while Tom and Jerry attract their attention. Food is cooking in pot on fire

Spartans asking Oracle at Delphi whether to make war against Athenians. Peloponnesian War (Second or Great 431-404BC) between Athens and Sparta. Wood engraving 1910

Country girl having her hand read by an itinerant fortune teller
Chiromancy: Country girl having her hand read by an itinerant fortune teller who sees misfortunes ahead. Illustration by William Marshall Craig (c1765-c1834). Engraving

Michel Nostradamus (1503-1556) French physician and astrologer. 17th century copperplate engraving

Title page of chapter on Chiromancy from Robert Fludd " Utriusque cosmi... historia" Oppenheim 1617-1619 showing the lines of the hand. Copperplate engraving

Chiromancy: Lines of the closed hand from Andre Corvo " L Art de Chyromance" Lyons c1545. Woodcut

Witches destroying a house by fire - Swabia, 1533. Woodcut from Francesco Maria Guazzo " Compendium Maleficarum", Milan, 1608

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Witches and sorcerers feasting at the Sabbath. Woodcut from Francesco Maria Guazzo Compendium Maleficarum, Milan, 1608

Witch shooting a man in the foot with an enchanted arrow made from a hazel wand. From Ulrich Molitor " De Laniis et phitonicis mulieribus", Constance, 1489. Woodcut

Witches casting a spell to bring rain. Woodcut from Ulrich Molitor " De Laniis et phitonicis mulieribus", Constance, 1489

Witch summoning up a monster. This was supposed to have happened in front of Marcomir, King of the Franks. Woodcut from Sebastian Munster " Cosmographia universalis", Basle, 1544

TAGES, who as a boy had the wisdom of an old man, and instructed the Etruscans in the art of augury

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"Augury: Unveiling the Mysteries of Fate and Fortune" Step into the realm of ancient divination as we explore the captivating world of augury. From Romulus consulting the Augury to witches feasting at the Sabbath, these engravings and lithographs transport us through time, revealing humanity's quest for glimpses into the future. In "A Way of Telling the Future, " Mlle. Formentin's intricate lithograph from 1824-27 captures our fascination with foretelling destiny. Meanwhile, "Aruspice" takes us back to Ancient Rome in a vibrant color lithograph from 1796, showcasing an augur interpreting omens by observing birds' behavior. Delving deeper into folklore and superstition, "The Devil" presents a chilling scene where a flying goat carries a witch to her unholy gathering. Swabia in 1533 witnessed destruction as depicted in "Witches destroying a house by fire, " reminding us of both fear and fascination surrounding witchcraft. As we peer into history's mystical practices, illustrations like "Fragment of Divining Bone" showcase ancient methods employed for fortune-telling. Similarly, Homer's epic tale comes alive with "Bird of Portent, " illustrating how even literature embraced signs and symbols as guides for human actions. But it is not only individuals who sought guidance; entire military strategies were plotted according to celestial events such as eclipses. The intriguing engraving depicting this very concept reminds us that even great conquerors relied on auguries when planning their campaigns. Finally, we witness Romulus himself seeking counsel from an Augur in John Leech's evocative artwork from 1852. This portrayal highlights how integral these priests were to Roman society - interpreting avian messages that shaped crucial decisions within their empire. Join us on this journey through time and belief systems as we unravel the mysteries behind augury.