| Papers [1-14] of 100 :: [Page 1 of 8] | | Go to page : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 —> | Search results on "HUMAN SACRIFICE": |
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Human Sacrifice in Ancient Rome, 2003.
An analysis of the reasons for human sacrifice in the Roman Republic.
3,505 words (approx. 14.0 pages), 14 sources, APA, £ 69.95
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Abstract
This paper examines three cases of human sacrifice documented by historians in the Roman Republic. Through a literature review, it looks at how the human sacrifices in the Roman Republic became addressed first in the early twentieth century when documentation was discovered of three people being buried alive. It analyses the various theories on the reasons for the sacrifices and attempts to show that the evidence clearly points to scandals among the Vestal Virgins being the direct cause for the human sacrifices that took place in Rome in the days of the Republic.
From the Paper
"Plutarch specifically states that the Vestal scandal led to the Senate demanding that the decemviri sacris facundis ?consult the Sibylline books? in order to see how they should progress. Only when the gods were suspected of being exceptionally displeased with the city was this act necessary. A scandal of infidelity among the Vestal Virgins was an extremely disturbing omen in the eyes of the citizens of Rome, for the Vestals kept the eternal flame burning?a symbol of Rome itself. The report of the decemviri was that there must be a sacrifice to the gods of four people (two Greeks and two Gauls) and that they should be buried alive in the Forum Boarium."
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Human Sacrifice in Ancient Greece, 2006.
This paper explores various ancient Greek cultures and the religious circumstances which justified the practice of human sacrifice.
864 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, £ 21.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the common misinterpretation regarding the ancient Greeks being too civilized a culture to commit human sacrifice. The writer of this brief yet concise paper proves that the Greeks did in fact commit human sacrifices as a major component of their religious beliefs and activities. The Greek's belief in Dionysus, the god of crop fertility, was a significant element in these sacrifices. Dionysus symbolized flesh and blood as bread and wine. An annual worship held in his name was to insure crop fertility. This was a common practice for many societies throughout Ancient Greece, including the Myceneans. The Myceneans were a powerful civilization who sacrificed humans in honor of the Olympian gods and archaeological evidence has been found to back these claims.
From the Paper
"The Mycenean civilization practiced this as well as many other forms of human sacrifice: "The burnt offering altar was often used in Mycenean rituals, and became a major form of practice. This form of human sacrifice was used late, almost until the end of the Mycenean civilization. "The burnt offering altar was a large, grill-like structure where prophets placed hot coals. The altar placed on the chest of the strongest warrior in town, the usual subject of this ritual. The sacrifice would be long and grueling, and the victim would not die until the prophets finished their praying to the gods. The Myceneans were a powerful civilization who were mentioned in the Homeric poems. They sacrificed humans in honor of the Olympian gods, and archeological evidence has been found."
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Human Sacrifice, 2002.
This paper explores the evil practices that are touted in name of religious traditions.
2,150 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 3 sources, £ 56.95
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Abstract
This paper explores the evil practices that are touted in name of religious traditions. It focuses on the evil tradition of human sacrifice.
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Minoan Bull-Leaping, 2007.
An analysis of Minoan bull-leaping as an act of human sacrifice.
1,711 words (approx. 6.8 pages), 9 sources, MLA, £ 39.95
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Abstract
This paper argues that bull-leaping was not an intentional act of human sacrifice, but rather a highly prestigious, overtly religious ritual undertaken by the Minoan elite. It describes bull-leaping as depicted in archaeological evidence, explores to what extent the practice could have resembled the artistic depictions of the act and analyses the danger and possibility of performing such a feat. The paper also considers the controversial evidence of "human sacrifice" at the Anemospilia temple; looks at the other violent sports practiced by the Minoans; emphasises the religious significance of bull-leaping and discusses the necessary skill of the bull-leapers themselves.
From the Paper
"That the Minoans practised human sacrifice was a possibility introduced following the grisly findings at the Anemospilia temple. Inside the temple ruins was, as Castleden1 (1990, 168-73) describes, the remains of a young man, with his legs tightly folded up, upon what appears to have been a sacrificial table. A long bronze blade was found beside him. The excavators, Y. Sakellarakis and E. Sapouna-Sakellaraki, proposed that the youth was sacrificed in order to avert the impending earthquake which destroyed the temple. Castleden not only maintains that human sacrifice was performed in this instance, he insists that it would have been an integral religious practise - enacted on many more occasions. He pushes the concept of the Minoans hidden 'shadow side' - mentioning several other examples."
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?To Sing with the Pigs Is Human?, 2004.
A detailed look at the life of the Kaulong peoples of Papua New Guinea, as described by Jane Goodall in her book, "To Sing with the Pigs Is Human".
5,720 words (approx. 22.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, £ 97.95
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Abstract
The Kaulong peoples of Papua New Guinea devote their lives to moving from the lowest status to politically "big men" and "big women" by displaying their accumulation of knowledge at all-night singing competitions, ending in a pig sacrifice and feasting. This paper shows how, in the course of her fieldwork with the Kaulong, who live on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, Jane Goodall discovered and catalogued that everything of importance to them; every event, relationship, and transaction was rooted in their constant quest for recognition as human beings. The paper explains how Goodall takes considerable time to determine both the Kaulong definition of ?human? and catalogue the tribal rituals and relationships that build into the Kaulong definition.
Paper Outline
Introduction
The Benefit of Goodall's Research
The Environment
Knowledge Management and the Identity of the Self
Kinship and Family
Courtship and Marriage
Sexuality, Gender and Family Order
Economics
Taro
Pork
Gold Lipped Pearl Shells
Sorcery
Culture and Ceremony
Bibliography
From the Paper
"The courtship and marriage ritual among the Kaulong is viewed as adversarial to the man. The females in the tribe begin the courting ritual, and many men feel as if marriage will ruin them. The male?s identity, as seen in the list of attributed above, is based on traveling, hunting, fighting, and being an individual with great knowledge. A marriage relationship hinders men from freely pursuing many of these traits. For these reasons the women chase the men, at times pursuing them with sticks and whips. Men are beaten by an interested female. Some men put off marriage until late in life. Others, who are caught unwillingly, will spend their first weeks in a marriage hut surrounded by brothers of the new bride. These brothers will not leave until the man pays them off, and assures them that he will not desert his new bride in favor of roaming the jungle."
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Sacrifice in Literature, 2005.
This paper examines the motif of sacrifice in Pedro Calderon de la Barca's "Life's a Dream", Euripides' "Iphigeneia at Aulis" and Toni Morrison's" Beloved".
1,245 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 3 sources, MLA, £ 29.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that the motif of sacrifice, especially the sacrifice of one's offspring, in Pedro Calderon de la Barca's "Life's a Dream", Euripides' "Iphigeneia at Aulis" and Toni Morrison's" Beloved" is contrasted starkly in each story with respect to the moral codes of their times. The author points out that, unlike the moral paradox in the story of Abraham and Isaac, there is no such paradox in these stories because the individuals within these novels are elementally human and not morally infallible. The paper relates that the sacrifice, in all of three stories, is performed with insufficient information and not wholly from a rational point of view; however, all three authors tend to suggest that the judgment of right or wrong is inconsequential because all that matters are the emotions people feel pulling them in one direction or another.
From the Paper
"Iphigeneia at Aulis" holds true to this theme in that, unlike the Iliad, it depicts entirely ordinary humanity collaboratively bringing about its own destruction. Agamemnon is no divine hero; he is a mortal man who finds himself in an impossible situation. Kalchas assures him, Odysseus and Menelaos that the sacrifice of his daughter, Iphigeneia, will permit their safe passage to Troy. The obvious forces in opposition to one another are Agamemnon's responsibilities to his people and the alliance, and his responsibilities as a father. The legitimacy of the prophecy is not truly in question, only Agamemnon's individual obligations. Although he calls for his daughter, he immediately admits, "What I have done is wrong and I want to undo it." (Euripides, 143-4)."
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The Sacrifice of United States Soldiers, 2002.
A discussion of the concept of sacrifice for one's country through a review of Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" and the movie "Platoon".
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 3 sources, £ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper will discuss the importance of the sacrifice of the United States soldiers who fight wars for our country. The relevance of this topic will be covered by analyzing Tim O'Brien's book "The Things They Carried" and the movie "Platoon" to see how they compare in this idea of sacrifice for our country. By learning more about these two books in this forum, we can see why they are very relevant to the appreciation of these soldiers who fight for our country.
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Sacrifice in Christianity and Hinduism, 2002.
A comparison of the concepts of sacrifice in Hinduism and Christianity.
1,650 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 3 sources, £ 43.95
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Abstract
This essay will discuss the nature, purpose and significance of sacrifice in two religions: Hinduism and Christianity. It will be shown how, despite the deep cultural differences between the two, and their wide separation in terms of time and space, the idea and practice of sacrifice is strikingly similar in both religions.
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The Aztec and Sacrifice, 2002.
An anthropological analysis of the Aztec culture of sacrifice.
2,775 words (approx. 11.1 pages), 12 sources, £ 72.95
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Abstract
This paper will argue, through an examination of the role of human sacrifice in the religious practices of the Aztec civilization, that human sacrifice should be interpreted primarily as a cultural activity that is firmly integrated into the signification and value system of the community as a whole.
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The History of Animal Sacrifice, 2005.
An overview of the ritual and practice of animal sacrifice.
920 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 8 sources, APA, £ 22.95
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Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the ritual and practice of animal sacrifice from ancient times through the present. The analysis focuses on the religious associations with the practice and the struggles of contemporary religions fight for the right to continue the practice.
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Love and Sacrifice in "A Tale of Two Cities", 2003.
Critically reviews Charles Dickens's "A Tale of Two Cities" and examines themes of love and sacrifice.
4,003 words (approx. 16.0 pages), 12 sources, MLA, £ 76.95
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Abstract
With love and sacrifice as the two main themes of Charles Dickens's novel, "A Tale of Two Cities," an interesting love-related conflict is inevitable. The paper examines the structure of the novel and its narrative style. It examines the conflict involving the love between Lucie, Carton, and Darnay. The paper takes an in-depth look at the three distinctly different sections of the novel and looks at the setting of the novel and its characters, as well as the symbolism involved in the story.
From the Paper
"Characters are another very important aspect of the novel as well. Dickens typically used four different types of characters in his story (Long 493). The first type is the innocent child, or Young Jerry Cruncher. Young Jerry Cruncher, Jerry Cruncher's son, resembles his father in appearance and temperament. Young Jerry Cruncher was exposed to the abuse of his father from a very young age. He is often puzzled by the mysteriousness of his father's occupation and the mud on his boots and the rust that is always found on his fingers (Kalil 31). As Moody states in A History of English Literature, the second type is the grotesque foil, a character that is not excited by laughter but by terror (352). Madame Defarge fits this description very well, making her the antagonist of the story."
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Sacrifice: Hinduism and Christianity, 2006.
An analogy between Hinduism and Christianity regarding sacrifice.
1,979 words (approx. 7.9 pages), 5 sources, MLA, £ 44.95
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Abstract
This paper aims to draw an analogy between the spirituality of religious sacrificial practices in Hinduism and Christianity, showing how both have developed to connote the same spiritual significance today. It looks at how 'Yajetwa' in Hinduism and 'Sacrifice' in Christianity are incorporated into a believers' life in diverse manners and how the Vedic 'Sesa-Sesi' relationship connects them both with a perfect spiritual bond.
Outline
Biblical Theology
Hindu Theology
Analogy
Conclusion
From the Paper
"The 'Ramanuja' theology took precedence after a slight change in the political-religious structure of the palace and temple and with Visnu and Siva rising as personal, loving and saving deities. "Puja" and "aradhana" were replaced to connote sacrifice, with a primary purpose of pleasing the supreme deity, by placing flowers and fruits in front of the image of the Lord at the temple. This reserves primary value to the Lord alone, with sacrifice being but a step towards glorifying the deity. Visnu embodies the whole action of the sacrifice and all its' elements as a whole. Thus, a subtle transition from "'dharma is the sacrifice' to 'Visnu is the sacrifice'" occurs. "
In Christianity, Jesus's crucification is the symbol of sacrifice, whereby God became incarnate in Jesus and sacrificed himself for wiping out the sins of his entire nation, replacing the unnecessary animal sacrifice of the Old covenant. Three days later, his bodily resurrection depicted the efficacy of this process in freeing human beings from death."
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Human Sacrifice, 2003.
Human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism worldwide throughout history.
3,424 words (approx. 13.7 pages), 6 sources, MLA, £ 68.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the significance of human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism in such contexts as the Bible, Roman mythology, and actual tribes currently and previously found throughout the world.
From the Paper
"Human sacrifice has been a part of human nature and human history since before written records. The act of killing another human to appease a deity or another higher power is written about in some of the oldest religious documents and oral stories. Human sacrifice is one of the most powerful religious accounts in culture, in which a life is taken in order to please a god. ?In every sacrifice an object passes from the common into the religious domain; it is consecrated? (Beattie, p29). This ceremonial execution happens everywhere around the world today. In this paper I will discuss human sacrifice from the past, in written history and fables, and in today?s modern world."
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Social Pollution in "New Year's Sacrifice" and "Hands.", 2006.
In this paper the two authors, Lu Xun and Xiao Hong, treat the subject of social stigma, isolation, and social hygiene similarly.
1,543 words (approx. 6.2 pages), 0 sources, £ 35.95
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Abstract
In both stories, the protagonist is a female and both women are ostracized from their peers and their community. The paper explains how pollution is portrayed by both authors as being socially defined. Hsiang Lin's Wife of "New Year's Sacrifice" is polluted for no reason other than her socially unacceptable past, whilst Wang Ya-Ming of "Hands" is polluted not only because her hands are dark and different but also because she is very poor. The paper shows how in both stories those who do not or cannot conform suffer dearly. The paper therefore details how Hsiang Lin's Wife and Wang Ya-Ming were ostracised and as a result became ill and weak. Both "New Year's Sacrifice" and "Hands" show how norms can severely affect people who are different, or people who step outside the boundaries of the social code.
From the Paper
"The fear of pollution is a recurrent theme in both Lu Xun's "New Year's Sacrifice" and Xiao Hong's "Hands." The two authors treat the subject of social stigma, isolation, and social hygiene similarly. In both stories, the protagonist is a female: in a sense, she is already born polluted. Although Hsiang Lin's Wife is older than Wang Ya-Ming, both women are ostracized from their peers and their community. Hsiang Lin's Wife of "New Year's Sacrifice" is shunned and scorned because of her socially unacceptable past. Twice a widow, her boy child died from a wolf attack. Hsiang Lin's Wife is therefore viewed by the people of Luchen as being dangerous as well as spiritually dirty. Lu Xun describes her symbolic pollution through the use of color contrasts, namely whiteness versus blackness. Similarly, Xiao Hong relies heavily on color symbolism to convey the central theme of social pollution in "Hands." The story's protagonist Wang Ya-Ming and her family members have black hands. Furthermore, both authors show how poverty and pollution are closely linked, as Wang Ya-Ming and Hsiang Lin's Wife are both destitute. Lu Xun and Xiao Hong show that social persecution causes loneliness and illness. At the same time, the polluted characters in the two stories retain a sense of inner strength in spite of their ordeals."
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