Favour: Sacrifices and Offerings

Question 1

What sort of animals were killed in a sacrifice?

Answer 1

Cows, bulls, sheep, pigs, oxen

Question 2

Where did the sacrifice take place?

Answer 2

Outside the temple on the altar

Question 3

How was the animal killed?

Answer 3

Execution with an axe
Open up the animal- if insides are good the gods have accepted the sacrifice

Question 4

Is it a big ceremony?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

Why is a fire lit on top of the altar?

Answer 5

So the meat from the sacrifice can be burnt and sent up to the gods as smoke

Question 6

What was poured onto the altar

Answer 6

Offerings of water and wine, called libations, were poured onto the altar from small dishes

Question 7

Why did pipers play music

Answer 7

Flute was played to cover any unlucky noise that could ruin a sacrifice- it was seen as bad for the cow to moo

Question 8

Steps for a sacrifice:

Answer 8

1) select healthy animal
2) make sure everyone and the victim are clean
3) decorate victim with ribbons wool or even gold paint
4) process to the altar outside temple
5) person in charge washes hands and offers prayers( clearly stating which god they’re praying to and what sacrifice is for- thanks? Something in return?)
6) pour wine/grain over animal’s head
7)kill the animal
8)gut the animal
9)inspect the entrails
10) good entrails -gods happy, bad-do all over again

Question 9

How they examine the entrails?

Answer 9

Watch the way the victim fell
Observe smoke and flames when parts of victim placed on fire
Size,shape,colour,texture of liver
They’d announce whether signs were favourable or not