AXINOMANTIA, (from ἀξίνη, an axe, and προφητεία, divination;) an ancient species of divination, or a method of foretelling future events by means of an axe or hatchet. This art was in considerable repute amongst the ancients, and was performed, according to some, by laying an agate stone on a red-hot hatchet, and also by fixing a hatchet on a round stake so as to be exactly poised; then the names of those suspected were repeated, and he at whose name the hatchet moved was pronounced guilty.