Dying for the Gods: Human Sacrifice in Iron Age & Roman Europe

by Miranda Aldhouse Green

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Sacrifice, like death, is one of the great taboo subjects of modern society. The notion that human sacrifice, murder most horrid and even cannibalism could be considered a most holy act is almost inconceivable. Yet the evidence for human sacrifice in north-west Europe, deriving from both archaeology and the testimony of Classical writers of the first centuries BC/AD, has to be confronted. This is the challenge of this original, but often disturbing, book. Brings together a wealth of show more archaeological, anthropological and historical evidence that has not been previously available is a valuable asset to scholars. show less

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A very interesting archaeological study of ritual human sacrifice in prehistory. A lot of info on various bog bodies.There's something that becomes apparent as you read the book. A lot of the sacrifices, especially the younger ones, have some sort of deformity or injury, often relating to the spine. I honestly can't recall if I've read this somewhere else before or not. But what strikes me is that, had I lived way back then, I could have been one of those bog bodies. Scoliosis was one of the deformities mentioned (for a sixteen-year-old girl). And one would think this would creep me out, right? Nah. In fact, I was thinking, yeah, it'd be pretty nifty to have people studying my body millennia after my death.

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37+ Works 2,384 Members
Miranda J. Green is Professor of Archaeology and Head of Research in the School of Humanities at the University of Wales, Newport, and President of the Prehistoric Society

Common Knowledge

Important places
Europe
Important events
Iron Age

Classifications

Genres
Anthropology, Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, History, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
291.340940901ReligionOther religions[Formerly: General Religious Topics][formerly: Public worship and other practices. Relocated to 203][formerly: Sacrifice. Relocated to 203.4]
LCC
GN473.5Geography, Anthropology and RecreationAnthropologyAnthropologyEthnology. Social and cultural anthropologyCultural traits, customs, and institutionsIntellectual life
BISAC

Statistics

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58
Popularity
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Reviews
1
Rating
(3.83)
Languages
English, German
Media
Paper
ISBNs
3