LITHOMANTIA, in antiquity, a species of divination performed with stones. Sometimes the stone called fidirites was used: this they washed in spring-water in the night by candle-light; the person that consulted
Lithuanian- consulted it was to be purified from all manner of pol-
Liania. lution, and to have his face covered: this done, he
II repeated divine prayers, and placed certain characters
Lithuania. in an appointed order; and then the stone moved of
itself, and in a soft gentle murmur, or (as some say) in
a voice like that of a child, returned an answer. By a
stone of this nature, Helenus is reported to have
foretold the destruction of Troy.