The Burkert Ritual Model - Scene 2

The sacrificial offering is presumed to consent to the sacrifice and to present itself willingly as an offering to the god. The animal is reputed to be physically perfect - the most beautiful and healthy animal of the herd. It is adorned with ribbons and its horns, if it has them, are gilded. The animal sacrificed varied by divinity and by occasion. The most common offering was a sheep, though an ox was the most noble, especially if a bull were offered. Goats and pigs were also used; the piglet was the cheapest animal to offer. (Poultry could also be offered, but other birds and fish were rarely sacrificed).

© 2001 Andrea Koinski and Barbara Olsen. All rights reserved.