Mythic Origins of the Sacrifice

Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, Art

« Back to Last Page | Rituals and Festivals of Ancient Greek Religion »

The mythic origins of the nature of sacrifice actually tells us a great deal about what the rituals meant to the Greeks. According to the legends, the Titan Prometheus was assigned the task of creating the first sacrifice in order to establish the proper relationship between gods and men once Zeus had assumed power and distributed authority amongst his siblings.

Using a steer, Prometheus hoped to fool the gods by tricking them into taking the worst parts: he wrapped the bones in appealing fat but wrapped the best meat in nasty entrails. Zeus knew it was a trick, but went ahead and chose the bones anyway - and, in the process, won. Prometheus thought that he was giving men the best part, but in eating meat they acquired the need to eat it and also, at the same time, the flaw of mortality.

Men were now enjoying the consumption of something dead which, in turn, meant that they would die themselves. Gods, however, were content with the pleasant smell of burning bones, fat, and spices, retained their immortality and stayed young because they had no direct contact with the corruption that of death. Thus, the sacrifice created by Prometheus in order to establish the relationship between gods and men did so in a way detrimental to men, despite his best intentions.

« Back to Last Page | Rituals and Festivals of Ancient Greek Religion »