CLA308H1 Chapter : releflection #4.docx
Document Summary
The interpretation of zeus poleius (festival of zeus of the city) is a complex one. I found that each of the sources had reasonable claims. From parker s perspective, i agree on how zeus is seen as the guardian of fields , in the sense that sacrificing the working oxen is praise to zeus. In my own opinion, it makes sense how the ox is the chosen animal for sacrifice; the larger, superior animal sacrificed for the most predominant and important god (the god of the heavens). Parker s point about how the killing of the oxen (or bouphonia) is somewhat controversial because it is killing the partner in one s labor is a major theme that is addressed by the majority of the sources. Bukert addresses this by explaining how the ox had broken the ban and sinned against zeus, thus the bouphonia is justified.
