starter activity

Find and label the following: sacrificial basket with libations (special drinks offered to the gods) and bread or cakes; a sacrificial axe; the altar with flames; the temple; a priest

wearing a toga Why do you think sacrifice was so important to Romans?

What happened What happened at a Roman at a Roman sacrifice?sacrifice?

TBAT explain the key stages TBAT explain the key stages of a sacrificeof a sacrifice

To compare with a To compare with a description of a sacrifice in description of a sacrifice in

the Odysseythe Odyssey

Learning objectives

Key words: libation mola salsa cultrarius haruspex

Your taskYour task Read about the Read about the

stages of a stages of a sacrifice and try to sacrifice and try to sequence them sequence them into the correct into the correct orderorder

Try to describe Try to describe the 5 stages back the 5 stages back to your partner or to your partner or produce a 5 produce a 5 sentence summary sentence summary of the stagesof the stages

How many elements in the description can you see here?

Your taskYour task Turn to pages 38-39 Turn to pages 38-39

in the Odyssey. As a in the Odyssey. As a class we will read class we will read from line 420-480 in from line 420-480 in which a animal which a animal sacrifice is sacrifice is described.described.

Extension: What can Extension: What can we learn about the we learn about the Romans from Romans from studying sacrifice? studying sacrifice?

Your taskYour task

Split your page in half – on one side Split your page in half – on one side write similarities in the Odyssey, on the write similarities in the Odyssey, on the other write differences in the Odysseyother write differences in the Odyssey

Overall, would you say that the Odyssey Overall, would you say that the Odyssey gives an example of a typical sacrifice?gives an example of a typical sacrifice?

Extension: ‘A blood sacrifice was much Extension: ‘A blood sacrifice was much more than the mere killing of an more than the mere killing of an animal. How far do you agree? animal. How far do you agree?

SimilaritiesSimilarities

GildingGilding Preparation of foodPreparation of food Sprinkling of barleySprinkling of barley Firewood – fires shown in some reliefsFirewood – fires shown in some reliefs Sharp axeSharp axe Blood was collectedBlood was collected Thigh bones cut out & placed in the Thigh bones cut out & placed in the

fire for the godsfire for the gods

DifferencesDifferences

Didn’t arrange date with temple officialsDidn’t arrange date with temple officials Animal was led by the hornsAnimal was led by the horns Didn’t cut a few hairs from the animal’s Didn’t cut a few hairs from the animal’s

back first and throw them into the fireback first and throw them into the fire Key individuals, e.g. popa & cultrarius Key individuals, e.g. popa & cultrarius Nothing to drown out the sound, e.g. Nothing to drown out the sound, e.g.

women crying out or fluteswomen crying out or flutes No haruspex examining inner organs, No haruspex examining inner organs,

e.g. livere.g. liver

HomeworkHomeworkImagine you are part of a small group of Romans who opposed animal sacrifice – followers of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras. They believed in reincarnation and so opposed the killing of animals for any reason, even for food, because you could be killing a former relative!

Write a letter to the Roman emperor explaining what happened at an animal sacrifice you witnessed and why you oppose the ritual.

Use the weblink on Studyhistory to help you gather more details on the stages and equipment used in animal sacrifices.

What happened What happened at a Roman at a Roman sacrifice?sacrifice?

TBAT explain the key stages TBAT explain the key stages of a sacrificeof a sacrifice

To compare with a To compare with a description of a sacrifice in description of a sacrifice in

the Odysseythe Odyssey

Learning objectives

Key words: libation mola salsa cultrarius haruspex