The Ancient Origins of Ventriloquism

Ventriloquism actually began as a form of fortune telling called gastromancy. Ancient practitioners believed that the strange rumbling sounds from their stomachs were voices of the dead speaking from within.

The term gastromancy combines the Greek words for stomach and divination. In antiquity, these stomach gurgles were interpreted as prophetic messages by people known as gastromancers. This practice eventually evolved into the performance art we now recognize as throwing one's voice. It is fascinating how a mystical superstition paved the way for modern stage entertainment.