Anthropos Metron versus Bous Metron? The Significance and Suffering of Animals in Regard to Sacrificial Rituals

Humanity has practised animal sacrifice for the greater part of its history, from time Neolithic Revolution. The ritual forms have varied, depending on culture. They also been subject to change, in connection with development human understanding and knowledge animals, which is reflected ontological, cultural moral status assigned animals world. Sacrificing involved not only killing them a particular way – their treatment was sometimes sophisticated or ‘ritualistic’; often it simply cruel. Human attitudes towards non-human living beings evolved context sacrifice. reveals great deal about terms culture, beliefs, morals. article outlines this issue historical manner, referring practices adopted selected circles (in Mediterranean Basin): ancient Mesopotamia Greece, as well Judaism Islam. key findings researchers are presented, along evaluations philosophers, ethicists anthropologists.