Homer Oracle

This divinatory tool was found in Hans Deiter Betz's Greek Magical Papyri in Translation, 2nd Edition The University of Chicago Press ©1992 ISBN 0-226-04447-5. (A must have for anyone interested in Hellenic/Egyptian magic as it was practiced in late antiquity.) Originally there were a number of lacunae in the the text, and a couple of the verses that were repeated. Using another divinatory tool as an aid, I filled in the gaps and replaced the duplicate verses, and the tool has worked very successfully for me sinse then. However, for authenticity's sake you may wish to seek out the original version of this tool, and make the additions as you see fit. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Although I made certain additions to the work, and have employed this tool for personal use, I did not make the translation from Greek, nor do I possess the copyright on it. I'm not sure if I am violating some kind of copyright law by posting it here - but I merely intended to post it as a resource for those interested in authentic Hellenic divinatory tools. (In other words, please don't sue me Mr Betz or whoever owns the copyright.) To use the Oracle: Recite your question aloud, and then cast the dice or knuckle-bones. You may either throw three dice at once, or a single die three times. I have found that four verses are sufficient to answer a question, but sometimes a single verse works just as well. As with all divinatory tools, go with your intuition in such matters. Homer Oracle PGM VII 1-148 1-1-1 But on account of their accursed bellies they have miserable woes, [Od. 15. 344] 1-1-2 neither to cast anchor stones nor to attach stern cables, [Od. 9. 137] 1-1-3 being struck by the sword, and the water was becoming red with blood. [Il. 21. 21] 1-1-4 pick your man to be your companion, whichever you wish [Il. 10. 235] 1-1-5 stood holding a scepter, which Hephaistos produced by his labors. [Il. 2. 101] 1-1-6 Thus would murmur any man, Achaian or Trojan [Il. 4. 85] 1-2-1 amends I wish to make and to give a boundless ransom. [Il. 9. 120] 1-2-2 surely then the gods have ruined your mind. [Il. 7. 360] 1-2-3 First, let their brains be spilled on the ground as this wine is spilled now [Il. 3. 300] 1-2-4 healing salves, by which he can put an end to the black pains [Il. 4. 191] 1-2-5 let it lie in the great hall. And I wish for your happy arrival. [Od. 15. 128] 1-2-6 Son of Atreus, give up your anger; even I entreat you [Il. 1. 282] 1-3-1 I myself will cast, and Zeus will look after the issue [Il. 17. 515] 1-3-2 On the twelfth day he will be coming back to Olympus [Il. 1. 425 1-3-3 But Zeus does not accomplish for men all their purposes. [Il. 18. 328] 1-3-4 I would even wish it, and it would be much better [Il. 3. 41] 1-3-5 Then indeed would he smash all your fine show, [Od. 17. 244] 1-3-6 I also care about all these things, woman. But very terribly [Il. 6. 441] 1-4-1 And led them as spoil, but Zeus and the other gods saved you [Il. 20. 194] 1-4-2 speaking good things, but they were contriving evil things in their hearts. [Od. 17. 66] 1-4-3 The glorious gifts of the gods are surely not to be cast aside, [Il. 3. 65] 1-4-4 better had you never been born, or killed before you wed. [Il. 3. 40] 1-4-5 not in outright anger, and my meaning toward you is kindly. [Il. 8. 40] 1-4-6 These things, Zeus-nurtured Skamander, will be as you order. [Il. 21. 223] 1-5-1 a joy to your enemies and a disgrace to yourself? [Il. 3. 51] 1-5-2 Within this year, Odysseus will arrive here, [Od. 14. 161] 1-5-3 No use indeed to you, since you will not lie clad in them, [Il. 22. 513] 1-5-4 And to the victor are to go the women and the possessions. [Il. 3. 255] 1-5-5 The rule of the many is no good. Let there be one ruler, [Il. 2. 204] 1-5-6 And the gateway is full of ghosts, and full also is the courtyard, [Od. 20. 355] 1-6-1 We have won great honor. We have killed glorious Hektor, [Il. 22. 393] 1-6-2 Who would undertake and complete this task for? [Il. 10. 303] 1-6-3 Not even if his gifts to me should be as numerous as the grains of the sand and particles of dust, [Il. 9. 385] 1-6-4 I think they will not save you now, as your expectation [Il. 20. 195] 1-6-5 we should have called it a lie and we might rather have turned from it [Il. 2. 81] 1-6-6 And this shall be a thing of shame for the men hereafter. [Il. 2. 119] 2-1-1 For no island is made for driving horses or has broad meadows, [Od. 4. 607] 2-1-2 in the past, when you were boys, did you listen to your [Od. 4. 688] 2-1-3 Not that way, good fighter that you are, godlike Achilles [Il. 19. 155] 2-1-4 Yes, old sir, all this you have said is fair and orderly. [Il. 1. 286] 2-1-5 Let me alone, then; lord of the people, I am confounded [Il. 21. 221] 2-1-6 His gifts are hateful to me, and I honor him not a whit. [Il. 9. 378] 2-2-1 an only beloved heir to many possessions, [Il. 9. 482] 2-2-2 If only he were somewhere on the sea, where the fish swarm [Il. 16. 746] 2-2-3 As east wind and south wind fight it out with each other [Il. 16. 765] 2-2-4 As when obliterating fire comes down on the timbered forest [Il. 11. 155] 2-2-5 So they thronged about him. And near [Od. 24. 19] 2-2-6 and fashioning lies out of what nobody could see. [Od. 11. 366] 2-3-1 be valiant, that later generations may also speak well of you. [Od. 1. 302] 2-3-2 leaning on the grave marker over a barrow heaped up by men [Il. 11. 371] 2-3-3 go. You have a way, and beside the sea your ships [Il. 9. 43] 2-3-4 You will be proved a liar, and will not go on to fulfill your word. [Il. 19. 107] 2-3-5 And his mother for her part continued the lament amid a flood of tears, [Il. 22. 79] 2-3-6 Not even if remaining for five or six years [Od. 3. 115] 2-4-1 So he spoke, and ordered Paion to administer a cure. [Il. 5. 899] 2-4-2 These things, unhappy man, will I accomplish and do for you. [Od. 11. 80] 2-4-3 How can you propose to render toil useless and ineffectual? [Il. 4. 26] 2-4-4 a thing delayed, late of fulfillment, whose fame will never perish. [Il. 2. 325] 2-4-5 Sooner would you grow weary and return to your native land. [Od. 3. 117] 2-4-6 to go, that he may bring poisonous drugs from there, [Od. 2. 329] 2-5-1 Husband, you departed from life young, and me behind as a widow [Il. 24. 725] 2-5-2 in which way I will for sure accomplish everything and how it will be brought to pass, [Il. 9. 310] 2-5-3 Offer me not honey-tempered wine, honored mother, [Il. 6. 264] 2-5-4 on that day when the Amazon women came, men's equals. [Il. 3. 189] 2-5-5 Be men now, dear friends, and take up the heart of courage. [Il. 5. 529] 2-5-6 Do not orphan your son and make your wife a widow. [Il. 6. 432] 2-6-1 would that they might now eat their last and final meal here. [Od. 4. 685] 2-6-2 It is not meet for a man who speaks in the Council to sleep all the night through, [Il. 2. 24] 2-6-3 What's wrong with you, that you took this wrath into your heart? [Il. 6. 326] 2-6-4 But who knows if he will one day return and punish them for their violent deeds? [Od. 3. 216] 2-6-5 wives I will provide for both and furnish possessions [Od. 21. 214] 2-6-6 we may try the bow and complete the contest. [Od. 21. 180] 3-1-1 For it's no reproach to flee evil, nor by night. [Il. 14. 80] 3-1-2 Be mindful of every form of valor. Now you needs must [Il. 22. 268] 3-1-3 as a widow at home. And the boy is still just a baby [Il. 24. 726] 3-1-4 But do in no wise enter the moil of Ares, [Il. 18. 134] 3-1-5 For amid misfortune mortals quickly grow old. [Od. 19. 360] 3-1-6 lest he be hurt, and all their labor slip away into nothing [Il. 5. 569] 3-2-1 At that time when the dawn star passes across earth, harbinger [Il. 23. 226] 3-2-2 Such a man is not alive nor will be born, [Od. 6. 201] 3-2-3 Of a truth, child, there's nothing really wrong with this, [Il. 18. 128] 3-2-4 Now is it no longer possible for him to find escape from us, [Il. 22. 219] 3-2-5 we will ransom with bronze and gold, for it is within. [Il. 22. 50] 3-2-6 drink, and do not vie with younger men. [Od. 21. 310] 3-3-1 where are you fleeing, turning your back like a craven in the ranks? [Il. 8. 94] 3-3-2 Would that such a man be called my husband [Od. 6. 244] 3-3-3 plants her head in heaven and walks upon the earth. [Il. 4. 443] 3-3-4 To him, a meaner father, was born a better son [Il. 15. 641] 3-3-5 and nodded for his army to survive and not to perish. [Il. 8. 246] 3-3-6 Would that you not plead with the noble son of Peleus, [Il. 9. 698] 3-4-1 Honey-sweet wine has the best of you, which others also [Od. 21. 293] 3-4-2 Act in whatever way your mind is moved, and no longer hold back. [Il. 22. 185] 3-4-3 For it is fated for both to turn the same ground red [Il. 18. 329] 3-4-4 keep on shooting like this, if haply you may become a light to the Danaans [Il. 8. 282] 3-4-5 as there is no one who could keep the dogs off your head, [Il. 22. 348] 3-4-6 You will not kill me, since I am for sure not subject to Fate. [Il. 22. 13] 3-5-1 staying right here you would help me watch over this house [Od. 5. 208] 3-5-2 Get out of the gateway, old man, or it won't be long before you're dragged out by the foot. [Od. 18. 10] 3-5-3 Better for a man to escape evil by flight than to be caught. [Il. 14. 81] 3-5-4 and declare to no one, neither man nor woman, [Od. 13. 308] 3-5-5 of wheat or barley. And the heaps fall thick and fast. [Il. 11. 69] 3-5-6 Whatever sort of word you speak, such would you hear. [Il. 20. 250] 3-6-1 was opposed to giving Helen to tawny Menelais, [Il. 11. 125] 3-6-2 or will you alter your purpose? The hearts of the good are flexible. [Il. 15. 203] 3-6-3 Yet I for one never doubted, but at heart [Od. 13. 339] 3-6-4 Eurymachos, it will not be so. And even you know it. [Od. 21. 257] 3-6-5 You miserable foreigner, you have no sense at all. [Od. 21. 288] 3-6-6 And the father granted him one thing, but denied him the other. [Il. 16. 250] 4-1-1 Nay, go to your chambers and tend to your own work, [Od. 1. 356] 4-1-2 Now then, do not even tell this to your wife. [Od. 11. 224] 4-1-3 would you have been stoned to death for all the wrongs you've done. [Il. 3. 57] 4-1-4 you prayed to the immortals to see with a beard grown. [Od. 18. 176] 4-1-5 and vow to Lycian-born Apollo the famous archer [Il. 4. 101] 4-1-6 and no spirit of harmony unites wolves and sheep, [Il. 22. 263] 4-2-1 Come now, let us make these concessions to one another, [Il. 4. 62] 4-2-2 And in the throng were Strife and Uproar, and Fate-of-Death, [Il. 18. 535] 4-2-3 Honor then the gods, Achilles, and take pity on me [Il. 24. 503] 4-2-4 Up, rush into battle, the man you have always claimed to be. [Il. 4. 264] 4-2-5 Patroklos, and a huge loss is inflicted upon the Danaan [Il. 17. 690] 4-2-6 You baby, what use now to keep your bow idle? [Il. 21. 474] 4-3-1 For even fair-tressed Niobe turned her mind to food, [Il. 24. 602] 4-3-2 After giving a mass of bronze and gold and raiment [Od. 5. 38] 4-3-3 Surely then the journey will not be useless or fail to occur. [Od. 2. 273] 4-3-4 One omen is best, to defend your country. [Il. 12. 243] 4-3-5 I will gild her horns all round and sacrifice her to you. [Il. 10. 294] 4-3-6 and you would gain every Trojan's thanks and praise, [Il. 4. 95] 4-4-1 put in with your ship since women are no longer trustworthy [Od. 11. 456] 4-4-2 It is not possible or proper to deny your request [Il. 14. 212] 4-4-3 would straightaway fit his will to your desire and mine. [Il. 15. 52] 4-4-4 and give him instruction. And it will be beneficial for him to obey. [Il. 11. 789] 4-4-5 will give glory to me, and your soul to horse-famed Hades. [Il. 5. 654] 4-4-6 fill up his ship with gold and bronze aplenty, [Il. 9. 137] 4-5-1 but tell one part, and let the other be concealed. [Od. 11. 443] 4-5-2 and at birth Zeus sends a weight of misery. [Il. 10. 71] 4-5-3 alone to have intelligence, but they are flitting shades. [Od. 10. 495] 4-5-4 yielding to his indignation. But they now withheld from him the gifts [Il. 9. 598] 4-5-5 I rejoice at hearing what you say, son of Laërtes. [Il. 19. 185] 4-5-6 But Zeus causes men's prowess to wax or to wane, [Il. 20. 242] 4-6-1 a terrible man. He would be quick to blame even the blameless. [Il. 11. 654] 4-6-2 with all haste. For now would you capture the broad-wayed city [Il. 2. 66] 4-6-3 Endure now, my heart. An even greater outrage did you once endure, [Od. 20. 18] 4-6-4 You lunatic, sit still and listen to the word of others, [Il. 2. 200] 4-6-5 had cast aside wrath and chosen friendship. [Il. 16. 282] 4-6-6 so good it is for a son to be left by a dead [Od. 3. 196] 5-1-1 Here then, spread under your chest a veil, [Od. 5. 346] 5-1-2 'Tis impiety to exult over men slain. [Od. 22. 412] 5-1-3 through immortal night, when other mortals sleep? [Il. 24. 363] 5-1-4 How then could I forget divine Odysseus? [Od. 1. 65] 5-1-5 lurid death and o'erpowering death laid hold of [Il. 5. 83] 5-1-6 So there's nothing else as horrible and vile as a woman [Od. 11. 427] 5-2-1 Let us not advance to fight the Danaans around the shops. [Il. 12. 216] 5-2-2 to put up a defense when some fellow provokes a fight. [Il. 24. 369] 5-2-3 nor do children at his knees call him "papa" [Il. 5. 408] 5-2-4 I am this very man, back home now. And after many toils [Od. 21. 207] 5-2-5 Talk not like this. There'll be no change before [Il. 5. 218] 5-2-6 let him stay here the while, even though he's eager for Ares. [Il. 19. 189] 5-3-1 And do not, exulting in war and battle, [Il. 16. 91] 5-3-2 never to have gone to bed with her and had intercourse, [Il. 9. 133] 5-3-3 and moistens the lips but fails to moisten the palate. [Il. 22. 493] 5-3-4 Take heart! Let these matters not trouble your thoughts. [Il. 18. 463] 5-3-5 But this mad dog I'm unable to hit. [Il. 8. 299] 5-3-6 Keep quiet friend, and do as I say. [Il. 4. 412] 5-4-1 Bad deeds don't prosper. The slow man for sure overtakes the swift, [Od. 23. 7] 5-4-2 They shut fast and locked the doors of the hall. [Od. 21. 236] 5-4-3 Ah, poor man! Death's not at all on your mind, [Il. 17. 201] 5-4-4 Odysseus has come and reached home, though he was long in coming. [Od. 23. 7] 5-4-5 in full he will accomplish it at last, and the penalty they pay is great, [Il. 4. 161] 5-4-6 and therein was Strife, and therein Valor, and therein chilling Attack, [Il. 5. 740] 5-5-1 but 'tis most wretched to die and meet one's doom by starvation. [Od. 12. 342] 5-5-2 shall I be laid low when I die. But good repute is now my goal, [Il. 18. 121] 5-5-3 and the lion beats him down by force as he fights for his breath, so [Il. 16. 826] 5-5-4 In no way do I mock you, dear child, nor am I playing tricks. [Od. 23. 26] 5-5-5 but she stayed Alkmene's labor and stopped her from giving birth. [Il. 19. 119] 5-5-6 But come, and hereafter I shall make amends for this, if now anything wrong [Il. 4. 362] 5-6-1 Where are you two rushing? What cause the heart within your breast to rage? [Il. 8. 413] 5-6-2 Pray now, let him not be too much on your mind. [Od. 13. 421] 5-6-3 But the gods do not, I ween, give men all things at the same time. [Il. 4. 320] 5-6-4 Talk not like this. There'll be no change before [Il. 5. 218] 5-6-5 So he spake, but did not move the mind of Zeus by saying this. [Il. 12. 173] 5-6-6 but Odysseus nodded no and checked him in his eagerness. [Od. 21. 129] 6-1-1 How can you want to go alone to the ships of the Achaians? [Il. 24. 203] 6-1-2 Then all the rest of the Achaians cried out in favor [Il. 1. 22] 6-1-3 And too, I've taken the mist from your eyes, which before was there, [Il. 5. 127] 6-1-4 It does not become you to be frightened like any coward. [Il. 2. 190] 6-1-5 And I know that my arrival was longed for by you two [Od. 21. 209] 6-1-6 I shall dress him in a mantle and a tunic, fine garments. [Od. 16. 79] 6-2-1 by fastening a noose sheer from a high rafter, [Od. 11. 278] 6-2-2 remembering our excellence, of the sort that even we [Od. 8. 244] 6-2-3 the sea's great expanse they cross, since this is the Earthshaker's gift to them. [Od. 7. 35] 6-2-4 Nay, come on with the bow. You'll soon be sorry for obeying everybody. [Od. 21. 369] 6-2-5 But hurry into battle and rouse the other soldiers. [Il. 19. 390] 6-2-6 For mighty Herakles, not even he escaped his doom, [Il. 18. 117] 6-3-1 amends I wish to make and to give a boundless ransom. [Il. 9. 120] 6-3-2 And let him stand up among the Argives and swear an oath to you [Il. 19. 175] 6-3-3 The man is nearby. Our search will not be long, if you are willing [Il. 14. 110] 6-3-4 and not quite suddenly, and a very god should be the cause? [Od. 21. 196] 6-3-5 Verily, these things have already happened, and not otherwise could be. [Il. 14. 53] 6-3-6 On now, follow close! In action numbers make a difference. [Il. 12. 412] 6-4-1 surely then the gods themselves have ruined your mind. [Il. 7. 360] 6-4-2 Take heart, and let your thoughts not be of death. [Il. 10. 383] 6-4-3 by her wailing she roused from sleep her household servants, [Il. 5. 413] 6-4-4 Come now, in strict silence, and I shall lead the way, [Od. 7. 30] 6-4-5 are their ears for hearing, and sense and respect are dead. [Il. 15. 129] 6-4-6 as he was growing old. But the son did not grow old in his father's armor. [Il. 17. 197] 6-5-1 to return home and behold the day of homecoming. [Od. 5. 220] 6-5-2 Apollo of the silver bow did strike the one, still sonless, [Od. 7. 64] 6-5-3 then you may hope to see your loved ones and reach [Od. 7. 76] 6-5-4 soon you will bring to pass some still greater evil [Il. 13. 120] 6-5-5 For so shall I proclaim, and it will be accomplished too. [Il. 1. 212] 6-5-6 and I shall send him wherever his heart and spirit urge him. [Od. 16. 81] 6-6-1 idiot? You'll soon pay when the swift hounds devour you [Od. 21. 363] 6-6-2 You would learn what mighty hands I have to back me up. [Od. 20. 237] 6-6-3 In no wise do I think he will take you for himself, nor is it proper. [Od. 21. 322] 6-6-4 here we gather, waiting day after day. [Od. 21. 156] 6-6-5 My child, how long will you go on eating your heart out in sorrow [Il. 24. 128] 6-6-6 Don't dare get it into your mind to escape from me, Dolon. [Il. 10. 447] Here ends the verses of the Homer oracle. May it help you!