Sortes Homericae

The Homeromanteion is a method of divination by lot that has come down to us through three Egyptian papyri dated to the third and fourth centuries CE. The effectiveness of this bibliomantic method is grounded in the authority of Homer as an inspired poet and in the belief – dating back to the classical period – that his verses could reveal the future. This article focuses on the study of Homers importance as a »recognized authority« in divination and the particularities of the Homeromanteion as a cleromantic method in relation to other types of bibliomancy of the time. Finally, given the distinctive features of the text, the study concentrates on the context in which it was composed and consulted, its relationship with the composition of centos and other poetic artifices of the period, highlighting the appearance of an acrostic at the beginning of the text that may disclose the name of its author.