Online Lecture: Divination in the Ancient World

Since ancient times, people across the globe have devised methods for predicting the future: reading animal entrails, cracking tortoise shells and rolling dice. Join archaeologist and religious studies scholar Robert Weiner to investigate ancient divination techniques and the methods by which scholars study them. From Mesoamerican mirror gazing and Chinese oracle bones to contemporary practices such as stock market prediction, Dr. Weiner will contextualize divination within the cognitive science of intuition, offering a thought-provoking inquiry into how people learn to live with the unknown — and what these practices reveal about the human condition.

Your online lecture will take place live over the course of 1-2 hours. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly. This live online experience uses Zoom Webinar, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. You will receive a confirmation email when you enroll, and a reminder email one week and one day before, as well as the morning of the event with a link and instructions on how to tune in. You will not be pictured on screen during the lecture, but you will have the opportunity to ask the instructor live questions using the Q&A box. Unless otherwise noted, all those who enroll in this program receive access to the live event as well as a recording of the lecture that you can watch any time within the two weeks following the live event.