Homo Necans: The Anthropology of Ancient Greek Sacrificial Ritual and Myth Paperback – 20 Nov. 1986

This book is a long established classic; it is good that it is available in an affordable paper binding. The seller's price is very good value.

Used this book when doing a module on Greek religion at warwick uni! I felt like I had been desensitised to the idea of sacrifice because it was such an inherent part of the topic but Burkert put it in a whole new light for me! Made me see ancient sacrifice as more than just a ritual, very interesting study!!! Definitely recommend!

Classic anthropological text with a sustained central argument and a wide array of supporting evidence from the ancient Greek/Roman world.

Walter Burkert analyzes human behaviour, religion, rituals, sacrifices and myths from a fundamental biological viewpoint of intraspecies aggression and violence.Human behaviourMan's biological evolution was accomplished during the age of the hunter. His terrifying violence is a derivation of the behaviour of the predatory animal. `A male community is biologically analogous to a pack of wolves.' The only groups able to assert themselves were those held together by collective killing in the hunt and by an inviolable social order.Human aggression and violence have marked the progress of our civilization. One can even say that `all orders and forms of authority in human society are founded on institutional violence.'ReligionReligion is a stabilizing factor of the first order in society. But, blood and violence lurk fascinatingly at its very heart. Christianity is confronted with murder at its very core.In ancient times, the sacred act done at the sacred place by the consecrating actor consisted in slaughtering sacrificial animals. The act of piety is `bloodshed, slaughter and eating.'RitualsSacrificial rituals were all about encountering death and affirmed life (food). `The gruesome evil at work in the rituals fulfilled a function, i.e., to preserve a social structure over the course of generations.' The bull to be slaughtered reflects the ancestral king or the universal father; a young animal, a child or a maiden.MythsMyths frequently explain and justify social orders and establishments. Their most exciting themes come from the realm of sexuality and aggression, the perils of death and destruction. They have their counterpart in sacrificial killings.EleusisThe Korè myth describes the sacrifice of a maiden transformed in agrarian terms. It is a description of the agricultural cycle. The Korè is the grain that must go under earth so that, from this seeming death, the new fruit can appear. `Hunger threatens when the Korè disappears, but to the delight of gods and men, she returns, and with her blessing of grain from Demeter.'Based on an enormous amount of bibliographical material, Walter Burkert delved deeply into and exposes the hidden meaning and functions of ancient, sometimes secret, rites. He unmasks the dark side of man and human civilization.This book is a must read for all Greek scholars and for all those interested in the history of mankind.