Sacrificial Rites in Anceint Greece

Human sacrifice is the killing human beings as part of a religious ritual. It is in the relationship of the animal sacrifices and other forms of religious sacrifice.  Human sacrifice has been found in various cultures throughout history. The reasoning for the sacrifices was that was supposed to please or appease gods or spirits, or as a sacrifice when the King's servants are killed in order for them to continue to serve their master in the next life.

In modern times, sacrifice has virtually disappeared from all major religions.  Most religions censure the practice, and today’s laws treat it as murder, the term ritual murder is used.         

Ritualistic Sacrifice in Ancient Greek Mythology The ritual of sacrifice in Greek literature defined many aspects of their culture. Sacrifice was the basis of moral concern and an effective means of narratives in Greek tragedy. Sacrifice in Greek literature has a symbolic importance.  Both politics and religion were one and sacrifice regulated governmental issues and personal.

Sacrifice was the basis of the relationships between men and gods. The ritual sacrifice also classified the gods, and distinguished them from one another.

Sacrificial rites were the focus of many cultural festivals where different purposes were combined, initiation, purification and oath. Human blood rituals were performed before battle and at the burial rights of the dead.

Human sacrifices were not as prevalent as animal sacrifices although instances of human sacrifice did take place in Ancient Greece. Greek mythology depicted the current moral standards of society, thus creating the prominence of animal sacrifice in ritual.

The strength of a city in Greek literature was qualified by the blessings or vengeance inflicted by the gods. Discipline, in Ancient Greece, prevented chaos and disorder. Punishments by the gods were not set to any limits an unpleasant mood might provoke a decree of death.

Human and animal sacrifices differ; where human sacrifice was considered the ultimate rite of corruption, animal sacrifice characteristically was a festive occasion for the whole community. The actual sacrifice is considered to be an honorable rite; the violence involved is condoned. The gods derive get pleasure from these festivals. These sacrificial rites established relations between mortals and gods. The social order of Grecian life depended on sacrifice to in regulate governmental issues.

In today’s society sacrifices human or animal is considered barbaric and repulsive yet in some remote areas of the wor4ld it does still exist.  Life is considered sacred and the act of ritual; sacrifices are punishable by law.  The religious world condemns such practices agreeing with the laws of the state as being an act of murder.or the work of an unsound mind.