ALECTOROMANCY, an ancient Kind of Divination, performed by means of a Cock. See DIVINATION.This Art was in use among the Greeks; and the manner of it was this—A Circle was made on the Ground, and divided into 24 equal Portions, or Spaces; in each of which Spaces was written one of the Letters of the Alphabet, and upon each of these Letters was laid a Grain of Wheat.This done, a Cock was turned loose into the Circle, and careful Observation made of the Grains he pecked. The Letters corresponding to those Grains, were afterwards formed into a Word; which Word was to be the Answer desired.'Twas thus that Zibanius and Iamblichus sought who should succeed the Emperor Valens; and the Cock eating the Grains answering to the Spaces ΘΕΟΔ, they concluded upon Theodore, but by a Mistake instead of Theodotus. The Word comes from the Greek ἀλέκτωρ, a Cock, and μαντεία, Divination.
