1. A well-oiled future: 4000 years of Babylonian fortune-telling ASA1: York, June 2013 - All photos are in the public domain - Alex Loktionov FRSA, Division of Archaeology (al621@cam.ac.uk)

2. Background Old Babylonian Period: c.1800-1600BCE Writing already over 1500 years old 2 written languages: Sumerian (scholarly) and Akkadian (spoken) Political centralization Distinct identities of scribal elites

3. Oil divination (lecanomancy) Pettinato 1966 – Die Ölwahrsagung bei den Babyloniern If x(protasis) is seen, then y(apodosis) will happen… First pour oil on water (1 st reading) Then pour water on oil (2 nd reading) e.g. “(If) one throws oil onto water and it splits into five parts, the man will owe a debt to the moon god” (Pettinato 1966. comp. 8) e.g. “(If) one throws water onto oil and it disperses evenly, the house of the man will be scattered” (Pettinato 1966. comp. 33)

4. So what variables mattered? Number, size and shape of bubbles Location of bubbles within bowl, in relation to compass points Colour, brightness and light Movements within bowl

5. Phenomenology of oil omens? Subjective experience yielding complex metaphors for everyday events e.g. “(If) the oil develops horns when one pours water, the wife of the man will go away” (Pettinato 1966. Comp. 16) e.g. “(If) the oil sinks and rises up when one pours water, the man will come forth from difficulty” (Pettinato 1966. Comp. 32) e.g. “(If) the oil sinks and stays at the bottom when one pours water, the man will die” (Pettinato 1966. Comp. 35) Is the oil representing the man?

6. Subjective experience – ancient and modern Probably not that simple – often no apparent metaphor at all: e.g. “(If) one pours oil onto water and it forms three bubbles, the man must make offerings to the sun god to stay alive” (Pettinato 1966. Comp. 6) Open to interpretation and induced causation: self–fulfilling prophecies… Heavily influenced by the individual diviner (unclear how) Further problems due to major text preservation issues SO DO WE REALLY KNOW ANYTHING FOR CERTAIN? ? Thank you for listening