Haruspicy was a method of predicting what might happen in the future. In ancient Rome, haruspicy involved seeking omens inside the bodies of sacrificed animals.
Haruspicy comes from the Latin haruspex, "soothsayer by means of entrails," and roots meaning "observe" and "entrails." Entrails are internal organs, or guts, and this ancient form of fortune telling involved inspecting the insides of dead animals in search of meaningful signs or portents. The liver, lungs, and heart were considered especially important in haruspicy, able to signify the approval or disapproval of the gods.