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Did the Ancient Greeks practice human sacrifice?

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 5:14 am
by jellybean
I am aware of an ancient legend that linked human sacrifice with Zeus through ancient writers including Plato, although I have not seen any confirmation by archaeologists.

However, in the last couple of weeks human remains believed to be of a teenager have been found among burnt offerings during excavations this summer on Mount Lykaion, a Greek mountain that was once worshipped as the birthplace of the god Zeus. I think the headline is assuming too much at this stage, but it is nevertheless very interesting.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/201 ... -sacrifice

Re: Did the Ancient Greeks practice human sacrifice?

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 5:33 am
by Cult
Some areas might have, others might have not.
Greece wasn't a homogeneous country until much later. Each city had different laws, different traditions, sometimes different political government (take Sparta and Athens; Sparta had an oligarchy, Athens had a democracy). Mount Lykaion is in Peloponnese, so it wouldn't surprise me personally.

Re: Did the Ancient Greeks practice human sacrifice?

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 5:36 am
by Samsara
I wouldn't be surprised if it was either. Though look how everything turned out. Sometimes I wonder if the Gods meant sacrifice your virginity rather than your virgin. Big palm face in the sky.

On the subject of human sacrifice, I recall watching Mankind about how druids sacrificed their head priest to win a war and ended up defeated anyways.

Re: Did the Ancient Greeks practice human sacrifice?

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:16 pm
by Ashino Tsume roshi
Cult wrote:Some areas might have, others might have not.
Greece wasn't a homogeneous country until much later. Each city had different laws, different traditions, sometimes different political government (take Sparta and Athens; Sparta had an oligarchy, Athens had a democracy). Mount Lykaion is in Peloponnese, so it wouldn't surprise me personally.
Correct! Very Well Said. C-

Re: Did the Ancient Greeks practice human sacrifice?

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:35 am
by darkwing dook
Now I wonder how their practice of human sacrifice differs from that from other cultures..