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Marcus Lanna Lupus

Administrator

Registered: 2017-12-04

Posts: 10

Animal sacrifice to Diana

Hi everybody. The altar of Diana is built and it's time to dedicate it. I had a doubt. Is it correct to dedicate it with an animal sacrifice? Does anyone have ancient sources about this issue?

Thanks to all.

CORVVS

Member

From: Col. Alba Sarmata

Registered: 2017-12-04

Posts: 19

Website

Re: Animal sacrifice to Diana

All I found is one mention of that story of Servius's sacrifice of a cow and another mention of offerings of goats (I guess she-goats) to Atremis.
I am also re-reading Aeneid now trying to find mentions of animal sacrifices for Venus and Diana.

JuleKayser

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2018-06-26

Posts: 2

Re: Animal sacrifice to Diana

Hey, I read through some academic lierature (so as trustworthy as we can get i asuume) and it seems like yes, animal sacrifice was used for the dedication. Specifically it must be a female calv, as it seems like this was tradition since the erection of the altar for Diana in Rome on the Aventine Hill. Pine cones were used much more as I could gather from the books.
This is what I found:
1. ,,On the first suitable day for the sacrifice, the sabine led the heifer to the temple of diana in rome and set it before the altar [...] Meanwhile the Roman sacrificed the heifer to Diana, an act that was gratifing to both the king and the citizens". (History of Rome, Book  1, p. 64f).

2. I found a picture in Holloways Constantine which shows him sacrificing a calf to Diana. (Holloway: Constantine and Rome, p. 23).

3. There are a few more mentions i found about unspecified animal sacrifice to diana, especially from hunters. But as I said it seems like in general, pine cones are way more common

Michele Lowe argues that no animal sacrifices where made for Diana, but she concludes that from a single play where Diana is left out so I think we can dismiss that.

Hope I could help!

CORVVS

Member

From: Col. Alba Sarmata

Registered: 2017-12-04

Posts: 19

Website

Re: Animal sacrifice to Diana

Thank you very much, my friend! Great academic work! What do you think, amice Lupus?