THE OCCULT SCIENCES. 



divisions and subdivisions into which entered the virtues and influences of 

 the planets (Fig 156). Even the colour of the nails and the white spots 

 which are often seen upon them were assigned a special meaning by the 

 exponents of chiromancy, which thus became a very complicated and almost 

 a mathematical science. 



In addition to chiromancy, the Middle Ages witnessed the adoption of 

 several modes of divination in use amongst the ancients, and of the revival, 

 in a new shape, of others which were referred to in the books of Greek and 

 Roman antiquity. As in ancient times, there was Aeromancy (the art of divin- 

 ing by the phenomena of the air), Hydromancy, Pyromancy, and Geomancy 



Fig. 156. Specimen of the Left Hand, with the Lines and their Horoacopic Denominations. 



(divining by means of water, fire, and earth). History has often alluded to the 

 fantastic images which the credulity of our ancestors fancied they could see 

 in the heavens when a meteor or the northern light was visible (Figs. 157 

 to 160). These were looked upon as sinister or favourable presages, 

 according to their character. They also used pitchers filled with water, into 

 which were plunged metallic blades marked with certain tokens, and which, 

 as the water boiled, emitted sounds that the operator comprehended and 

 explained to his listeners. Dactylomancy (from the Greek word Saim/Xos, 

 finger) was practised by means of a ring, in many cases made under the 

 influence of a certain constellation. This ring was suspended by a thread 



