«Sortes biblicae» e tradizioni agiografiche fra IV e VI secolo

The use of the divinatory practice of the «sortes biblicae», direct heir of the ancient rhapsodomancy («sortes Homericae, sortes Vergilianae»), is frequently documented in the hagiographical sources between the fourth and the sixth centuries. The most famous episode of bibliomancy is transmitted by the eighth book of Augustine’s «Confessiones» («tolle, lege»). As narrated by his biographer Sulpicius Severus, also the episcopal election of Martin of Tours was decided by opening at random the book of Psalms. This hagiographical evidence remains, indeed, very problematic. Therefore, the early Church’s condemnation of the «sortes sanctorum» – commonly, but incorrectly, understood as a synonym for the divinatory consultation of the Bible – needs to be better explained.