Human sacrifice has been part of the human condition for centuries and to this day there are still forms of sacrificing humans as a means of exchanging human life for a greater cause. This paper will explore some of the practices used by the ancient civilizations such as the Aztecs and Carthaginians, give some historical context as to why humans were being sacrificed, and touch on how modern society still seems to practice certain forms of human sacrifice. As part of the human condition human sacrifice was practiced throughout the ancient world in many societies and it is important to ask ourselves what motivated such practices, why people were sacrificed, and what role religion played in sacrificing humans.
To better understand what motivated people to kill others in gruesome ways in order to gain a favorable
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Human sacrifice still continues in isolated parts of the world, and researchers have known cases where it is practiced by shamans on behalf of people - including cocaine traffickers - seeking to avert natural disasters or to improve their wealth. Human sacrifice is not just a ritual act designed to appease the gods, divine the future, or bring luck and prosperity to those offering the sacrifice. It covers all situations in which a human life is exchanged for a greater cause. Many think that sacrifice is solely tied to religion, but as we see in modern societies there have been many instances of people sacrificing themselves or others as a way of gaining what they would otherwise can’t obtain by any other means. People who perform hunger-strikes seem to be sacrificing themselves for nationality just as kamikaze pilots did at Pearl Harbor. In the United States some anthropologists interpret the executions of condemned men and women on death row as another form of sacrifice, perceived as removing evil and thereby cleansing American
The Aztec gods and goddesses, not only wanted blood, they wanted living human hearts. Living hearts were considered to nourish the gods and goddesses. All hearts were good, but the bravest captives were to be best nourishing to the gods; as a result, widespread warring took place. The Aztec people sought to bring captives back to the Aztec temples for sacrifice. They would sacrifice people in the name of the gods.
Read those last few words again. As said in the popular children’s show Sesame Street, “one of these things is not like the other”. The integration of human sacrifice into Aztec culture was not nearly as subtle as written above, though: The most important Aztec deity in their whole religion, Huitzilopochtli, was the sun god. According to Aztec creation myths, Huitzilopochtli required a great deal of power to raise the sun every morning and keep the night from overpowering for too long. This strength was drawn from regular consumption of human blood and heart.
Human sacrifice was a very common ritual in that time and area. But this is not enough to prove to the world that the answer to the mystery of the bog bodies is human sacrifice. However, I hope that the evidence I am about to show you is enough to convince you that human sacrifice is what killed the bog bodies.
The Aztecs believed they owed the gods everything for creating them and the world around them, therefore the gods needed to be fed or nourished daily. To honor their gods and show their gratitude they performed human sacrifices by offering hearts and blood. In doing so, they believed human sacrifices would ensure their existence to the world, and in turn help them in their after life. Aztecs also saw these rituals as a way to send a political message to control their own citizens and instill fear in their foreign neighbors. These sacrifices were performed by a specialized priest at the great temple, the Huey Teocalli, at the very top of the pyramid for all to witness. The heart was cut out while the victim was still alive. The still beating heart would then be burned in offering to the chosen god. Afterward, the body was thrown down the stairs of the pyramid where the head was then cut off and placed on a skull rack, known as a Tzompantli, displayed for all to see. (Ancient History
Since human sacrifice is a very dark and twisted subject, historians don’t talk about it as much as their agriculture. Even though that it is true that human sacrifice is dark, it is also a very important part of Aztec society. Human sacrifice was basically a part of their religion. The Aztecs thought that without this ceremony, they wouldn’t get different things that their gods and goddesses bring. For instance, the Aztecs believed that the gods and goddesses would bring crops, sun, rain, existence, etc, and the only way to keep them pleased was by human blood. In history we learn about agriculture and different ways agriculture is important, but we never learned about human sacrifice before. So, this a new thing that everyone is learning, and this is something more interesting than learning about
Blood sacrifice was regarded as one of the highest offerings because of its direct link to life itself. Life is the most precious gift given to us, so the Andean cultures must have believed that in the process in “giving” it back, they would be blessed by the gods they worshipped. All of the cultures showed some form of anthropomorphic being in their textiles and ceramics, meaning they believed in a higher power. And in appeasing this higher power they could live comfortably.
Human sacrifice is one of the oldest practices of the Mesoamerican culture. The Aztecs, the last empire of the Mesoamericans, performed human sacrifices in their festivals as a means to show political power and to maintain the order of the universe. The Mexica Empire also considered war and sacrifice to be essential in the gaining of their vast territories. It is believed that hundreds, or even thousands, of victims were sacrificed each year at the Aztec religious sites. However, in addition to the religious ritual, sacrifices had the effect of intimidation for outside visitors/ enemies and the population in general.
20) In the Greek belief system, sacrifice played a huge role because it was an important ritual done in Greek religion. It showed dedication and respect to the gods they performed for at alters. They also gave gifts to their gods, hoping that they would receive favor and protection from the gods.
The primary religious rituals of Israelite religion involved sacrifices and offerings. The ritual system within the Israelite cult evolved around gifts and offerings that were presented before Yahweh. In examining the book of Leviticus, the sacrificial system of the Israelites can be identified. It is this sacrificial system that was handed down by God through Moses that allowed the people of Israel to cross over the gap between their own weaknesses and corruption to the expectations presented by God. Sacrifices symbolized an acknowledgement of guilt and a need for divine grace and forgiveness.
People have had their throats slit, they have been senselessly stoned to death, their still-beating hearts even ripped from their bodies by the hands of their priests. And all for the sake of a greater power. Yet, however graphic and gruesome these cases may seem, these are not necessarily the descriptions of simple murders, but rather, of human sacrifice. As discussed in the article, “The Practice of Human Sacrifice,” these ritualistic killings have gone on for centuries and in a multitude of different societies, including the Gauls and the ancient Aztecs. The concept of Human sacrifice can even be found in literature, for example, in Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery.” In this, the quaint, farming village is more sinister than it
Although there are good reasons for emphasizing human sacrifice, there are even better reasons for emphasizing agriculture. An example is the Aztecs' exceptional use of their surroundings, such as the willow trees for anchors, and reeds for frames. Human sacrifice can be also emphasized for the Aztecs' belief that the Gods needed blood, but the spotlight is on agriculture.
To understand the practice of human sacrifice one must look at the reasons why the culture did such practices. There are three main ways of examining a cultural practice from an anthropological perspective.
For instance, lynching of accused witches and African Americans was repeatedly practiced to the point where the event had a carnival atmosphere. Also, it was assumed that witnessing death would discipline society to obey the laws, but rather a lack of compassion and empathy occurred instead. “The necessity to execute murderers to maintain societal order” (Bandura, 1). To further justify executions, culture has no choice but to treat an individual as a subhuman that deserves no sympathy from the public. In addition, culture embraces the idea that execution is the key to avenge a murder committed by a criminal incapable of following the principles of society.
A common example of human sacrifice in modern day is war. The soldiers who take part in battle give themselves up to defend their nation. In the front lines the soldiers never know when they’ll take their last breath or step. They sacrifices themselves for the better of the country. In The Odyssey, Circe informs Odysseus, before hand, that he will come across a prodigious monster on his voyage. This monster’s name is Scylla and she has six heads and twelve legs. For every one of her heads, she swallows a person off the ship. No ship was ever passed through this dangerous monster without losing at least one man. Overall, six men were sacrificed in order for Odysseus and the rest of the crew to get home safely. But today, human sacrifice is not common whatsoever. The majority of the people do not take practice in any form of human sacrifice. “Religious wars and persecutions are still not at all uncommon in various parts of the world. Christianity and Islam...both have a long history of religious wars persecutions” (Pearson, 1). Strictly speaking, some Christians and Muslims take part in human sacrifice during the times of war and persecution. In conclusion, human sacrifice, similarly to how it occurred in Greek Mythology, still exists
Wole Soyinka, like other Nigerian writers, characterizes the conflict of cultural and religious choices in his country and emphasizes the distinct customs of society (Tucker 9). Born into the Yoruba tribe and culture, Soyinka’s writings are clearly influenced by Yoruba culture and practices. Communities and societies in Africa today religiously partake in ancient rituals that some may consider extreme, such as cannibalism and self-mutilation. In the village in The Strong Breed, the extent to which individuals will go in order to rid a community of its sins and faults is tested by the sadistic annual sacrificial killing of an innocent individual for communal benefit. Wole Soyinka introduces ritualistic human societies that expose the ferocity of human beings and emphasize the cruel nature of their members. The moral disgust that permeates the community prior and subsequent to the ritual, the uncommon traits seen in characters triggered by a ritualistic society, and dialogue that highlights increasing ferocity of human beings, brings into question the validity of whether or not ritualistic sacrifice is ultimately beneficial to a community.