Describe what happened at a Greek sacrifice, do we have any similar rituals today, explain your views.

Sacrifice could be prompted by many occasions- a wedding, the start of a battle, the start of a competition or games, by a priest in a sanctuary, there are many, many different reasons for the Greeks to sacrifice animals, the animals used were different for different purposes, A Goat, pig, sheep and cock were the humblest of offerings. The cow and ox were the most prestigious offering. These were the animals most used in sacrifice.

The sacrifice itself started off, the animal chosen was to appear to be perfect and is decorated with coloured ribbons with its horns (if any) gilded. A procession escorted the animal to the alter. A blameless maiden carried the sacrificial basket on her head, in which a knife for the sacrifice lays hidden amongst the grains of barley or cakes, a container of water is also brought along, and often an incense burner, as the animal makes its way beside the procession, toward the alter, and its impending doom, musicians play, normally a male of female flute player. Once the procession has arrived at the site of sacrifice, all stand around the alter as the water is pored over the hands of the participants in turn, this is to begin archesthai. The animal too is sprinkled with the water, causing it to jerk its head, this is interpreted as a the animal nodding, as if to say ‘’ I am ready to die’’ Acknowledging its fate. The God at Delphi pronounced through the oracle; ‘’ That which willing nods at the washing of hands I say you my justly sacrifice’’ These words were powerful, and meant that the animal had to also bow his head to acknowledge its own death. The animal is given a drink or food to eat, and in doing so nods its head, (so it was tricked) all the participants take a handful of barley (oulai oulochytai) from the basket. Resounded and with arms raised to the sky, the sacrificer recites a prayer, vow, wish and invocation, then in confirmation, all throw their barley forward onto the alter and the animal. This and the washing of hand is known as Katarchesthai

The knife is uncovered and the sacrificer strides up to the now helpless animal, cuts some hairs from its forehead and throws them into the fire

The slaughter follows, smaller animals are raised above the sacrifice and its throat is slit (nice) and the artery in the neck is opened. The blood is collected in a basin and sprayed over the alter, as the fatal blow falls the women must cry out in shrill tones; life screams over death.

The animal is then skinned and butchered, the inner organs (splanchna) are roasted on a fire on the alter first ...

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The knife is uncovered and the sacrificer strides up to the now helpless animal, cuts some hairs from its forehead and throws them into the fire

The animal is then skinned and butchered, the inner organs (splanchna) are roasted on a fire on the alter first of all. To taste the entrails immediately is the privilege and duty of a selected few, the inedible parts of the animal are placed back together on the alter, e.g. bones. Once all the animal has been eaten the preparation for the actual meat feast begins, all must be consumed in the sanctuary. The inedible remains are left as a gift to the Gods.

The Judaism religion is somewhat like this, to a certain extent. Before they eat meat they drain the blood from the animal by slitting its throat and hanging the animal upside-down for the blood to drain, the collect the blood and I do not know what happens to it then. The animal is cooked and eaten. This is to some extent like the Greek sacrifices were, they slit the throat and drain the blood, I cannot see the reason for doing so, and maybe they believe that the blood is impure or it is wrong to taste blood. Whatever the reason it all comes down to religion and what rituals and such goes on inside the religion. I have no argument with the ‘sacrifice’ of animals done in this way because it this their right as Jews to follow the Jewish religion and what it entails, I would not like to pass judgement on something I know so little about.

Another religion that may have vague similarities between the Greek rituals is Christianity, and the taking of the bread and wine; the body and blood of Jesus, who was meant to be the last sacrifice. Although the bread and wine is symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus, it is eating him, to put it bluntly. In the Greek religion the Greeks eat the animal after sacrifice, and in the same way, only through symbolism, Christians eat the body of Jesus, and drink the blood of the son of man. Personal I think that this is a lot like the actual Greek sacrifice (no the parade and party) although it is being performed through symbolism, as Jesus said that he was the last sacrifice. Again I am in no position to pass judgement on the Christian religion, (however I know more about it than any other religion, as I was brought up in a Christian society) but I think this is a much more humane way of performing sacrifice than the actual slaughter of animals.

Carnivals and parades are also similar in a vague way to the Greek sacrifice ritual, as the animal in sacrifices is decorated with colourful ribbons and people dress up in bright colours and parade the animal down the street, so in this sense the carnivals and parades are like this as people also dress up in bight colours and march the streets.

Of course there are always the people who are in a particular religion or cult, that is not widely spread, that may do animal sacrifice as part of that cult of religion I have no evidence that such a thing exists, however the prospect that there is nowhere in the world that practises animal sacrifice similar to the Ancient Greeks is improbable, as the world is vast and there are many more secret religions, tribes and cults and their ways yet to be uncovered.