haruspicy

Haruspicy, or hepatoscopy, is an ancient form of divination based on inspecting the entrails of sacrificed animals to discern divine omens. The practice was rooted in Etruscan religion and later adopted by the Romans, who employed officials known as haruspices to perform the ritual and interpret the signs.

In a typical rite, an animal such as a pig or sheep was sacrificed, the liver removed and opened to reveal its lobes, vessels, and markings. The haruspex examined the organ for features considered portentous—shape, texture, colors, and the pattern of vessels—and translated them into omens regarding political, military, or religious matters. The signs could be favorable or unfavorable, and the haruspex would report the interpretation to magistrates or religious authorities.

Historically, haruspicy was integral to state religion in ancient Italy, especially among the Etruscans and in the Roman state. Our understanding of the practice comes from literary descriptions, inscriptions, and archaeology, which present a mix of ritual procedure and interpretive lore.

With the spread of Christianity and the decline of traditional cults, formal haruspicy waned in antiquity. In modern times, the subject is studied as part of ancient religion and ritual, contributing to our understanding of how early societies sought to read the will of the gods through omens and the entrails of sacrificial animals.