Sacred LawsSacred Laws

Sacrifices and Festivals – Codification.Sacrifices and Festivals – Codification. Why a code for a sacrifice and festival?Why a code for a sacrifice and festival? Why not simply follow a tradition? Why not simply follow a tradition?

What explains the need. What explains the need. Oxymoron- Religion with ‘relaxed’ Oxymoron- Religion with ‘relaxed’

theology, poets were invited to make theology, poets were invited to make changes, no dogma, narratives with changes, no dogma, narratives with loose ends- Yet sacred laws (on loose ends- Yet sacred laws (on inscriptions) codifying certain inscriptions) codifying certain practices.practices.

ExamplesExamples

From Robin Osborne’s article on From Robin Osborne’s article on “Women and Sacrifice in Classical “Women and Sacrifice in Classical Greece” from the Greece” from the OXFORD Readings OXFORD Readings in Greek Religionin Greek Religion, read pages 294 ff, read pages 294 ff

Example from an inscription from the Example from an inscription from the island of Thasos in Northern Greece island of Thasos in Northern Greece (around 440BC) found in two (around 440BC) found in two sanctuariessanctuaries

From the sanctuary of Herakles (hero cult)From the sanctuary of Herakles (hero cult)

““To Thasian Heracles. Goat is prohibited, so To Thasian Heracles. Goat is prohibited, so is pig, Women are prohibited. No ninth is is pig, Women are prohibited. No ninth is given. Not perquisite portions are cut. No given. Not perquisite portions are cut. No contests”contests”

(Thasian means from island of Thasos(Thasian means from island of Thasos Perquisite> special, privileged, given as an Perquisite> special, privileged, given as an

awardaward

Second inscription –example Second inscription –example from island of Thassosfrom island of Thassos

Found at a sanctuary of Demeter Found at a sanctuary of Demeter ThesmophorosThesmophoros

““To Athena Patroia sacrificial rites To Athena Patroia sacrificial rites are performed every other year and are performed every other year and women obtain a cut”women obtain a cut”

Exclusion of women noted in the cult of Exclusion of women noted in the cult of Herakles. Proverb “A woman does not Herakles. Proverb “A woman does not frequent the shrine of Heracles”frequent the shrine of Heracles”

Why not? Why not?

Mythological explanations, reflecting back Mythological explanations, reflecting back to the Heracles and Omphale storyto the Heracles and Omphale story

Notions of women as weaknessNotions of women as weakness Cultic aetiology. Cult involved ritual dining Cultic aetiology. Cult involved ritual dining

of men only.of men only.

Women not excluded in general in Women not excluded in general in religious practices.religious practices.

Images that depict sacrifices emphasize Images that depict sacrifices emphasize the role of women as not only present but the role of women as not only present but also active participants. also active participants.

(remember ululation, crying out loud, in (remember ululation, crying out loud, in Greek Greek ololygeololyge))

Remember description of sacrifice in Remember description of sacrifice in previous class from Walter Burkert, scholar previous class from Walter Burkert, scholar of ancient Greek religionof ancient Greek religion

Understanding sacrifice and Understanding sacrifice and role of women –Interpretation role of women –Interpretation

of Sacrificeof Sacrifice Scholarly views have sought to find parallels.Scholarly views have sought to find parallels. Marcel Detienne wrote a famous book in Marcel Detienne wrote a famous book in

French on sacrifice> According to Detienne, French on sacrifice> According to Detienne, who challenges Walter Burkert’s opinions, who challenges Walter Burkert’s opinions, women were excluded not only from the women were excluded not only from the sacrificial act of slaughtering the animal, but sacrificial act of slaughtering the animal, but also from the sharing in the meat.also from the sharing in the meat.

Other scholars like Farnell think that some Other scholars like Farnell think that some cults may exclude women (as is the case cults may exclude women (as is the case with Herakles cult, but that is not the case with Herakles cult, but that is not the case for all cults and all sacrifices)for all cults and all sacrifices)

For Detienne, there is a homology (parallel) in the role of For Detienne, there is a homology (parallel) in the role of women in political order and their role in religion.women in political order and their role in religion.

Detienne also shows homology between woman and the Detienne also shows homology between woman and the sacrificial beast, comparing menstrual blood of young sacrificial beast, comparing menstrual blood of young women to that of the animal’s in the altar.women to that of the animal’s in the altar.

Connection of bleeding, women bleed, they do not shed blood.Connection of bleeding, women bleed, they do not shed blood.Connects with the idea of Nicole Loraux (French scholar, who Connects with the idea of Nicole Loraux (French scholar, who

wrote wrote Tragic Ways of Killing a WomanTragic Ways of Killing a Woman) according to whom ) according to whom in tragedy women kill themselves in ways and by methods in tragedy women kill themselves in ways and by methods that do not involve bloodshed. Also paid attention to that do not involve bloodshed. Also paid attention to themes like Iphigeneia of young women offered in sacrifice, themes like Iphigeneia of young women offered in sacrifice, even though myth rejects human sacrifice, to save a even though myth rejects human sacrifice, to save a community (saved last minute by the gods). community (saved last minute by the gods).

The idea of shedding of blood central to Greek conceptions of The idea of shedding of blood central to Greek conceptions of womanhood. This explains why a young girl (thus, not yet womanhood. This explains why a young girl (thus, not yet menstruating) could be present in the sacrificemenstruating) could be present in the sacrifice

Sacred Laws againSacred Laws again

Many laws exclude women from Many laws exclude women from sacrifice in many places.sacrifice in many places.

Women excluded from Egyptian cults Women excluded from Egyptian cults on Delos in the Hellenistic period.on Delos in the Hellenistic period.

Regulations regarding what women Regulations regarding what women should wearshould wear

Women excluded from the role of the Women excluded from the role of the slaughterer of the sacrificial animalslaughterer of the sacrificial animal

Osborne disagrees with Detienne’s views Osborne disagrees with Detienne’s views and construction of gender roles.and construction of gender roles.

Nexus of different practices –different Nexus of different practices –different cults- different context (civic festivals etc)cults- different context (civic festivals etc)

Osborne writes Osborne writes (Oxford Readings (Oxford Readings p. 313)p. 313):: “Sacrifice reached parts of society which “Sacrifice reached parts of society which politics did not reach, and in doing so it politics did not reach, and in doing so it reached some parts that were the reached some parts that were the exclusive domain of women”exclusive domain of women”

Interpretations of SacrificeInterpretations of Sacrifice

Sacrificial Ritual Legitimating Sacrificial Ritual Legitimating aggressionaggression

Group experience, marks the limits Group experience, marks the limits of a group, those who participate and of a group, those who participate and those who don’t.those who don’t.

Sacrifice of animals and offerings Sacrifice of animals and offerings signified Control of man over the signified Control of man over the whole of naturewhole of nature