Page:Modern Greek folklore and ancient Greek religion - a study in survivals.djvu/346

 ([Greek: nyphitsa]) was once, it is said, a maiden destined to become, as the name implies, a 'little bride,' but in some way she was robbed of her happiness and transformed into an animal; its appearance therefore augurs ill for an intended wedding. A snake on the contrary is of good omen when seen in the house; for it is the guardian-genius watching over its own. The orientation of a cat when engaged in washing its face indicates the point of the compass from which wind may be expected. A mouse nibbling a hole in a bag of flour is in Zagorion as distressing a portent as it was to the superstitious man of Theophrastus. A dog howling at night in or near the house portends a death in the neighbourhood, as it did in the time of Theocritus: 'Hark,' cries Simaetha, 'the dogs are barking through the town. Hecate is at the cross-ways. Haste, clash the brazen cymbals '; only instead of the cymbals it is customary to use an ejaculation addressed to the dog, 'may you burst' ([Greek: na skasês]), or 'may you eat your own head' ([Greek: na phas to kephali sou]).

Again, to take another class of the domestic incidents mentioned by Suidas, the spilling of oil is universally an evil omen, and the spilling of wine a good omen; the former foreshadows poverty, the latter plenty. The upsetting of water is also a presage of good success, especially on a journey; but in this connexion, as a later chapter will show, it often passes out of the sphere of divination, which should rest on purely fortuitous occurrences, into that of sympathetic magic.

The crackling of logs on the fire, which Suidas mentions, remains to-day also an incident to be duly noted. Generally it appears to mean that good news is coming or that a friend is arriving, but, if sparks and ashes are thrown out into the room, troubles and anxieties must be expected. The spluttering of a lamp or candle also usually foretells misfortune. Omens as to marriage also may be obtained on the domestic hearth. Two leaves of basil are put together upon a live coal; if they lie as they are placed and burn away quietly, the marriage will be harmonious; if there is a certain amount of crackling, the married, p. 203.]