Now thought to date from 600 BC, the Illinois scrolls form a sort of oracle - comparable in some ways to the ancient Chinese divination tool the iChing - but one that provides both questions and answers. It seems that the writer wanted to awaken the readers' own internal seer. By making each answer fit every question the Sage potentially offers a possible nine thousand, eight hundred and one combined aphorisms.

The exact source of the Sage will likely never be confirmed but the Turkish site was inhabited at the time by the Knatii, a nomadic group of mystics, so it is assumed to be of Knatiic origin.

This adaptation of the oracle is part of a new (and more poetic) translation of the Sage that was completed by Nick Bantock, the renowned author/illustrator of the famous Griffin & Sabine books. This electronic version for the iPhone and iPod touch is perhaps just the latest step on the Sage's long journey from Turkey...

When consulting the Sage it is important to remember that its wisdom is only fully revealed when the questioner accepts the sense within nonsense.