CLAS 2531 Lecture Notes - Roman Rite, Lustratio, Suovetaurilia
29 Apr 2013
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Black animals were for the underworld gods only. White animals are for the upper world gods they were always domesticated animals: cattle, sheep, pigs suovetaurilia= boar + ram + bull in one sacrifice. Performed as an act of purification (lustratio) Very rare that other types of animals were depicted on roman monuments they were washed and adorned (they were gifts to the gods, must be attractive and appealing: 2. Wine= divine sovereignty therefore, this preliminary rite proclaimed immortality and the superiority of the gods: 3. Consecrating of the offering (act of making the offering sacred)- immolatio the celebrant moved on the immolation of the victim. With the knife it symbolically transferred the victim from human property to the god"s property. The roman senate decided to perform a human sacrifice- two greeks and two gauls were buried alive under the floor of the forum as propitiation.
