DATABASE OF GREEK ANIMAL SACRIFICE 2.0

I. INTRODUCTION

This database consists of all epigraphically-attested animal sacrifices to Greek gods and heroes, together with a listing of forbidden sacrifices (all from the island Thasos). The sacrifices attested range in time from the late sixth century B.C. to the second century A.D., and in space over the entire Greek world (though with minimal representation from Magna Graecia). I have tried to maintain very stringent standards for inclusion of data: ambiguous references in fragmentary texts have rarely, and only for compelling reasons, been admitted.

II. DESIGN

The data are tabulated by divinity for recipients of five or more attested victims--excepting only the eponyms Rhodos and Kos, each of whose eight sacrifices are all from the same inscription: the remaining divinities are grouped in a single table, "Heroes/Minor Gods." The table column headings will be self-explanatory. Within columns care has been taken to keep significant numerical or nominal data to the far left and thus in position for sorting: this, of course, has produced certain irregularities of style.

III. CONVENTIONS

1. Absent from the database are all sacrifices designated as purificatory, and all horkomosia (sacrifices to witness an oath).

2. A starred* entry in the "DIVINITY" column denotes a sacrifice attributed to the divinity in question from the designation of an animal for a festival of that divinity.

3. "Option" denotes one of two or more animals listed as optional victims for a particular divinity.

4. Many dates in the "DATE/INSCRIPTION" column are only approximate, and "ca." should be understood in all cases where a precise date (e.g., 362/361 B.C.) is not given.

5. In the "Heroes/Minor Gods" table I have attempted to distinguish "gods" from "heroes." In some cases this distinction is difficult, disputed, and perhaps spurious.

6. The mark > after an inscriptional date indicates that the date is a terminus post quem.

7. In the "VICTIM" column, the letters F, P, M mean, respectively, feminine, pregnant, masculine.

8. Each row of a table describes one sacrificial entity; i.e., the sacrifice of a single victim type, whether alone or as one element in a sacrifice of multiple victim types. Each victim listing is singular: for occasions on which more than one of the type were in fact offered, the number is appended to the "VICTIM" listing.

9. (Parenthetic references) denote the possible sacrifice of one or more boes inferred from the verb bouqutei=n, which occasionally merely = qu/ein (LSJ s.v.). These less-secure references are segregated at the ends of their respective tables.

10. pro/baton is represented throughout as "ois," but given the nebulous character of this term I have clearly indicated each case of ois ß pro/baton in the "VICTIM" column.

11. In a very few instances--all in the "Heroes/Minor Gods" table--a sacrifice to one divinity is immediately followed by a "trapeza" for a related divinity: clearly, some of the meat from the sacrifice will have been deposited on the trapeza. This need not imply, however, that the victim in question was felt specifically suitable for the second divinity--the meat may have become effectively "generic" as a trapeza-offering: these offerings, therefore, designated by (trapeza) in the "VICTIM" column, are segregated at the ends of their respective tables.

IV. ADIUVANTES: ii/eae quibus gratias maximas ago pro auxilio eorum in tabula aut corrigenda aut supplenda.

L. Maurice