uch as Apollo sending aplague. If a physical event does takes place due to Christian prayer(which is rare) it is seen as amiracle or sign from God. In the Iliad of Homer sacrifices were preformed before battle, before oaths were taken andalso before a guest and a host began a meal. Sacrifice in the Iliad consists of the slaughtering of ananimal. After the animal is killed the Greeks scatter barley, then cut up the animal. After this theycover the thigh bone with pieces of flesh and fat. They then pour wine on the ground and eat (1. 418-74). The scattering of the barely represents seeds of life. The purpose of covering the bonewith flesh and fat is to burn. The wine is then used to create a great amount of smoke. This is toallow them to communicate with the gods. This is the purpose sacrificing this way. WhenChryseis sacrifices the Oxen and prays to Apollo (1. 451-74) it is for an end to the plague fromDanaans. Sacrifice is also used as a form of apology. This is seen when Odysseus returns Chryseisback to her father with an oxen for sacrifice (1. 308-11). Sacrifice seems to differ from prayer inthe cense that it is a more formal event which is meant to show the respect the Greeks have forthe gods. It seems that when the Greeks sacrifice to the gods in the Iliad there is more of aseparation between mortal and immortal. At times of sacrifice mortals appear to have morereverence for immortals. It also differs from prayer, in that it is not always preformed in request. Christian sacrifice in todays church is seen much differently then sacrifice in Homers Iliad.It is not seen as an animal sacrifice to God. In the religion of Christianity sacrifice may be offeredin the form of a donation to the church or the community. Another form of sacrifice in theChristian religion is the giving up of something. For example, Christians may give up (sacrifice)something for forty days until Easter when Christ is risen. Sacrifice in Christianity dif...
