Blood of the Gods - Ritual Sacrifice at Cahokia

The victim is a young woman of the city. The woman has an honored role: playing the part of the goddess of the corn. BUT IT HARDLY FEELS LIKE AN HONOR. The arrows are perfectly aimed to miss her vital organs. This ritual is meant to TORTURE. Cahokians believe that the ritual symbolizes the fertilizing of the earth as it is torn, broken, plowed, and planted, to produce food for the people. The victim WELCOMES the final arrow to her heart. BUT THE RITUAL ISN'T OVER. The priest cuts open her chest, WATERING THE GROUND WITH HER BLOOD AS A GIFT TO THE GODS.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• cahokia
• sacrifice
• blood
• archaeology
• ritual