shown through punishment, was sacrifice. The complete integration of religion and law in Ancient Greece inevitably reinforced their social hierarchy, further unifying their sense of foundation.Although similar in purpose and ritual, human and animal sacrifices differ completely in societal reputation. Whereas human sacrifice epitomized the ultimate rite of corruption, animal sacrifice marked a festive occasion for the whole community. In Ancient Greece, society honored sacrificial ritual very highly. The very essence of “the sacred act,” according to Greek myth, is defined simply as the “slaughter and consumption of a domestic animal for a god” (Burkert 55).This definition portrays the symbolic value and prominence of social functions in Greek culture. They were extremely concerned with all of the various aspects of a perfectly executed gathering. Most considered a meal, “as an opportunity par excellence to put on a cultural performance. Because a dining table implies fair distribution, invitations, and an alternation of roles, it is a place where symbolism is rampant, where men talk and reveal themselves, and where the cooked fare introduces an aesthetic that satisfies a hankering rather than an appetite”(Sissa and Marcel 68). And the “hankering,” an insatiable desire for the great ritual of the expiatory sacrifice. The actual sacrifice, depicted in great detail, is considered such an honorable rite; the brute violence involved is overlooked. The hypocrisy portrayed in this situation reveals the existence of sacrifice as an incorrigible proposition, completely inherent in its foundation of Greek Mythology. The ritual varies in detail, dependant upon local custom, however the basic structure and purpose is clear: “animal sacrifice is ritualized slaughter followed by a meat meal” (Burkert 57). This particular rite also places an equally heavy emphasis on preparati...
