Analysis
Reading edition
Divination in Babylonia and Assyria1
Three chief methods: hepatoscopy, astrology and birth-omens1-6
Spread of Hepatoscopy and Astrology to Hittites, Etruscans, Greeks and Romans and to China3-4
The Transition motif in religious rites and popular customs5-6
Omen collections in Ashurbanapal’s Library6-7
Birth-omen reports9-12
Animal Birth-omens12-28
Double foetus13-16
Principles of interpretation14-15
Multiple births among ewes17-18
Malformation of ears19-22
Excess number of ears20-22
Ewe giving birth to young resembling lion23-26
Ewe giving birth to young resembling other animals27-28
Human Birth-omens28-41
Twins29-30
Monstrosities30
Multiple births31
Malformation of ears32-33
Malformation of mouth, nostrils, jaws, arms, lips, hand33-34
Malformation of anus, genital member, thigh, feet35-36
Principles of interpretation36
Misshapen embryos37
Weaklings, cripples, deaf-mutes, still-births, dwarfs38-39
Talking infants, with bearded lips and teeth39
Infants with animal features32. 33. 35-36. 40-41
Study of Human Physiognomy among Greeks and Romans43-44
Resemblances between human and animal features45
Porta’s and Lavater’s Views45-48
Study of Human Physiognomy based on birth-omens49-50
Birth-omens in Julius Obsequens50-52
Birth-omens in Valerius Maximus52
Cicero on birth-omens53-54
Macrobius on birth-omens55
Birth-omens among Greeks and in Asia Minor56-58
Birth-omens as basis of belief in fabulous and hybrid beings59-62
Dragons, Hippocentaurs and hybrid creatures in Babylonian-Assyrian Literature and Art63-64
Fabulous creatures of Greek Mythology and Birth-omens64-66
Egyptian sphinxes67-70
Totemism70
Metamorphosis of human beings into animals and vice versa70-72
Talking animals in fairy tales71
History of monsters and persistency of belief in monsters72-78
Lycosthenes’ work73-75
Summary78-80
Index81-86
“... they do observe unfather’d heirs and loathly births of natures” (King Henry V. 2nd part Act IV, 4, 121-122).