Haruspicy
Ancient system of divination using the entrails of animals.
One method was to sacrifice animals to the gods, then inspect
the intestines, spleen, kidneys, lungs, gall bladder, and liver.
The shapes, colors, and markings of entrails were interpreted.
Skilled haruspices or diviners also claimed to be able to interpret
the condition of entrails from the outward appearances of
animals, such as colors and shapes of eyes, ears, and other organs.
Haruspicy was practiced by ancient Assyrians, Babylonians,
and Etruscans, as well as by African and South American tribes.
Alternative terms for haruspicy include aruspicy and extispicy.
Divination involving the liver of animals is a special branch of
haruspicy called hepatoscopy
