_Table-turning_ (Vol. ix., pp. 88. 135., &c.).--In turning over Sozomen's
_Ecclesiastical History_, I observed at b. VI. ch. 34. an account of the
transaction already printed in your pages from Ammianus Marcellinus. It is
in brief as follows:--Certain philosophers who were opposed to Christianity
were anxious to learn who should succeed Valens in the empire. After trying
all other kinds of divination, they constructed a tripod (or table with
three legs: see Servius on Virgil, _Æn._ III. 360.) of laurel wood, and by
means of certain incantations and formulæ, succeeded (by combining the
letters which were indicated, one by one, by a contrivance of some kind
connected with the table) in obtaining Th. E. O. D. Now, being anxious and
hopeful for one Theodorus to succeed to the throne, they concluded that he
was meant. Valens, hearing of it, put him and them to death, and many
others whose names began with these letters.
On referring to Socrates, I find that he also names the circumstances just
alluded to. Although he does not give all the particulars, he adds one
important statement, which serves to identify the thing more closely with
modern table-moving and spirit-rapping. "The devil," he says, "induced
certain curious persons to practise _divination, by calling up the spirits
of the dead_ ([Greek: nekuomanteian poiêsasthai]), in order to find out who
should reign after Valens." They succeeded in obtaining the letters Th. E.
O. D.
I observe a reference to Nicephorus, b. XI. 45., but have not his works at
hand to consult. {552}
The use of _laurel_, in the construction of the table, seems to connect the
occurrences with the worship of Apollo. Those who would investigate the
subject fully must consult such passages in the classics as this from Lucan
[Lucretius?], lib. i. 739-40.:
"Sanctius et multo certa ratione magis, quam
Pythia, quæ _tripode_ ex Phoebi _lauro_que profatur."
I have a reference to Le Nourry, p. 1345., who, I see, has some remarks
upon the passage already given from Tertullian; he, however, throws little
light upon the subject.
HENRY H. BREEN (Vol. viii., p. 330.) says, "It is not unreasonable to
suppose that table-turning ... was practised in former ages:" to this I
think we may now subscribe.