The word "uromancy," which means divination by means of urine, is spelled using the IPA phonetic transcription as /jʊərəʊmænsi/ or "yoo-roh-man-see." The first syllable "u" is pronounced with a short "u" sound, while "ro" is pronounced with a long "o" sound. The final syllable "mancy" is pronounced with a soft "a" sound, like the word "ants." Despite the unusual spelling and pronunciation, uromancy was once a popular form of divination in ancient cultures, particularly among the Babylonians and Greeks.
Uromancy refers to a divination practice or method of fortune-telling that involves the examination and interpretation of urine to gain insights into the future or to discern answers to specific questions. Derived from the combination of the Greek words "ouron," meaning urine, and "manteia," meaning divination, uromancy has a long history dating back to ancient civilizations.
In uromancy, practitioners typically observe the color, clarity, consistency, and various other characteristics of urine to make predictions or interpret omens. Different interpretations are often assigned to different urine appearances, such as frothy, dark, or clear urine. The practitioner may also consider the manner in which the urine is produced, such as the way it splashes or bubbles when collected, as well as any accompanying sounds or smells.
While uromancy can be found in different cultures and traditions throughout history, it is particularly associated with ancient Mesopotamia, where it was a widely practiced form of divination. It is also prevalent in various forms of folk magic and traditional medicine.
It is worth noting that uromancy is generally considered a pseudoscience or superstition by modern standards. Nevertheless, it remains an intriguing aspect of human cultural heritage, shedding light on our historical curiosity about the unknown and our quest for understanding and guidance from unconventional sources.
Uroscopy, urocrisia (2), uromantia.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "uromancy" comes from the combination of two Greek terms: "oura", meaning "tail", and "manteia", meaning "divination". "Uromancy" specifically refers to the practice of divination by studying the shape, condition, or movements of an animal's tail, especially for predicting future events.