Daphnomancy
Template:Short description Daphnomancy is a form of pyromancy in which the future is predicted by burning bay laurel leaves. A loud crackling from the fire is a positive omen, while silence indicates a negative one.<ref name="KK2001">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="book1">Template:Cite book</ref>
History and etymology
Daphno is thought to be a tribute to Daphne, an ancient Greek nymph who turned into the first laurel tree by Apollo.<ref name="Ventura2008">Template:Cite book</ref> Originally, the leaves used in daphnomancy were selected from the sacred grove of Apollo.<ref name="KK2001"/> However, as time passed, the practice of daphnomancy spread to pre-Christian era Rome and Greece, which was thought to be commonly practiced by augurs in both empires.
The original grove from which the Romans took their laurel branches withered in 68 AD, a fact which contemporary augurs associated with Nero's death.<ref name="book1"/><ref name="Dunwich2002">Template:Cite book</ref>