Sacrifices

• What type of sacrifices were most common in Roman rituals?

  Blood sacrifices
• Why was the procedure of sacrifice considered important in Roman rituals?

  If something went wrong, the process restarted
• What are the three parts of a Roman sacrifice?

  • The preparation
  • The kill
  • The sharing of the sacrifice
• Who led the ceremony in state sacrifices?

  A pontifex
• What must participants do before a sacrifice to avoid pollution?

  Ensure they were clean and well-dressed
• What was gilded or tied to the animal during preparation?

  Horns or ribbons
• What was considered a good omen during the sacrifice preparation?

  If the animal went willingly to the altar
• What did the presiding priest do to prepare for the sacrifice?

  Veil his head with his toga
• Why did flute players join the procession during the sacrifice?

  To obscure noises that may scare the animal
• What was sprinkled on the animal's head before the kill?

  Mola salsa and wine
• What was the role of the popa during the sacrifice?

  To strike the animal on the head
• How was the animal killed during the sacrifice?

  The cultrarius slit its throat
• Why was it important for the animal to die with a single blow?

  To ensure a proper and respectful sacrifice
• What happened after the animal was killed in a Roman sacrifice?

  • The feast began
  • The god received their share first
  • The entrails were read for omens
  • Remaining meat was shared with the community
• Who received the first share of the meat in a sacrifice?

  The god
• What did the priest do before offering the entrails to the gods?

  Uttered a prayer stating the god's name
• Who read the entrails for omens?

  The haruspex
• How was the remaining meat treated after the sacrifice?

  Cut up, cooked, and shared
• What was the hierarchy in sharing meat during a state sacrifice?

  1. Priests
  2. Senate
  3. Other elite citizens
  4. Community members
• How did sharing meat in a private sacrifice differ from a state sacrifice?

  Only participants shared the meat
• What communal benefit did sacrifices provide to participants?

  Meat was not common in their diet