1.  starter activity Find and label the following: sacrificial basket with libations (special drinks offered to the gods) and bread or cakes; a sacrificial axe; the altar with flames; the temple; a priest wearing a toga  Why do you think sacrifice was so important to Romans?

2. What happened at a Roman sacrifice? TBAT explain the key stages of a sacrifice To compare with a description of a sacrifice in the Odyssey  Learning objectives  Key words: libation mola salsa cultrarius haruspex

3.  Your task Read about the stages of a sacrifice and try to sequence them into the correct order Read about the stages of a sacrifice and try to sequence them into the correct order  Try to describe the 5 stages back to your partner or produce a 5 sentence summary of the stages  Try to describe the 5 stages back to your partner or produce a 5 sentence summary of the stages How many elements in the description can you see here?

4.  Your task Turn to pages 38-39 in the Odyssey. As a class we will read from line 420-480 in which a animal sacrifice is described. Turn to pages 38-39 in the Odyssey. As a class we will read from line 420-480 in which a animal sacrifice is described. Extension: What can we learn about the Romans from studying sacrifice? Extension: What can we learn about the Romans from studying sacrifice?

5.  Your task Split your page in half – on one side write similarities in the Odyssey, on the other write differences in the Odyssey Split your page in half – on one side write similarities in the Odyssey, on the other write differences in the Odyssey Overall, would you say that the Odyssey gives an example of a typical sacrifice? Overall, would you say that the Odyssey gives an example of a typical sacrifice?  Extension: ‘A blood sacrifice was much more than the mere killing of an animal. How far do you agree?  Extension: ‘A blood sacrifice was much more than the mere killing of an animal. How far do you agree?

6. Similarities Gilding Gilding Preparation of food Preparation of food Sprinkling of barley Sprinkling of barley Firewood – fires shown in some reliefs Firewood – fires shown in some reliefs Sharp axe Sharp axe Blood was collected Blood was collected Thigh bones cut out & placed in the fire for the gods Thigh bones cut out & placed in the fire for the gods

7. Differences Didn’t arrange date with temple officials Didn’t arrange date with temple officials Animal was led by the horns Animal was led by the horns Didn’t cut a few hairs from the animal’s back first and throw them into the fire Didn’t cut a few hairs from the animal’s back first and throw them into the fire Key individuals, e.g. popa & cultrarius Key individuals, e.g. popa & cultrarius Nothing to drown out the sound, e.g. women crying out or flutes Nothing to drown out the sound, e.g. women crying out or flutes No haruspex examining inner organs, e.g. liver No haruspex examining inner organs, e.g. liver

8.  Homework Imagine you are part of a small group of Romans who opposed animal sacrifice – followers of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras. They believed in reincarnation and so opposed the killing of animals for any reason, even for food, because you could be killing a former relative! Write a letter to the Roman emperor explaining what happened at an animal sacrifice you witnessed and why you oppose the ritual.  Use the weblink on Studyhistory to help you gather more details on the stages and equipment used in animal sacrifices.

9. What happened at a Roman sacrifice? TBAT explain the key stages of a sacrifice To compare with a description of a sacrifice in the Odyssey  Learning objectives  Key words: libation mola salsa cultrarius haruspex