Kephalonomancy, Divination with an Animal Head

Kephalonomancie (from Greek kephalē ‘head’ and manteia ‘divination’) was a form of divination practiced by using the cooked head of an animal, typically a donkey or goat. The practice was common among Germanic peoples and Lombards. Martin Delrio, a 16th-century Jesuit demonologist, suggested that this practice might be connected to accusations against early Christians of donkey-worship. Ancient practitioners would place the animal head on burning coals, recite prayers, and call out the names of suspected criminals. The name uttered when the jaws of the skull snapped shut was believed to identify the guilty party. It was also believed that demons might appear to answer questions during this ritual.