Sacrifice Quote by Apollonius Rhodius
““With these words of prayer he threw the barley-grains. The two heroes responsible for the oxen, might Ankaios and Herakles, girded themselves in preparation. The latter crashed his club down on the middle of the forehead of one ox; in one movement its heavy body fell to the ground. Ankaios cut the other's broad neck with his bronze axe, slicing through the tough tendons; it fell sprawling over its two horns. Their comrades quickly slaughtered and flayed the oxen, chopping and cutting them up and removing the thigh pieces for sacrifice These they covered all over with a thick layer of fat and burnt them on spits, while the son of Aison poured libations of unmixed wine. Idmon rejoiced as he gazed at the flame, which burnt brightly all around the sacrifices, and the favourable omen of the murky smoke, darting up in dark spirals.””
About This Quote
Source Epic Poem: Argonautica, Book 1, line 150
Heroes slaughter an ox, preparing it for sacrifice, emphasizing ritual, communal effort, and the significance of libations.
In simple terms: Heroes perform a ritual sacrifice with communal effort.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the power of shared ritual in community.
Themes
Mythology
Ritual
Sacrifice
Community
Heroism
Mood
Reflective
Ceremonial
Epic
Type
Sacrifice:1
Sacrifices:0
Flayed Oxen:0
Oxen Ankaios:0
Slaughtered Flayed:0
When to use this quote
- Festivals
- Religious ceremonies
- Storytelling
Key Concepts
Ancient religious practice
Symbolic offering
Feasting
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the sacrifice symbolize for the heroes?
- How does communal effort shape the ritual?
A Different Perspective
Modern audiences may view such violence as barbaric.
