In ancient Egypt, male cattle were considered sacred animals connected to the god Epaphus. Because of this sacred connection, these animals could not be used for sacrifice unless they were carefully examined and officially approved. The Egyptians believed that the gods demanded purity, and even the smallest fault could make an animal unfit for religious use The Deep Religious Spirit of the Egyptians.
Careful Examination by the Priests
A priest was specially appointed to inspect each animal. The examination was detailed and strict. First, the priest searched the entire body to see if there was even a single black hair. If one black hair was found, the animal was declared unclean and could not be sacrificed.
The priest inspected the animal while it was standing and again after it was laid on its back. Nothing was left unchecked. He then examined the tongue to see if it showed certain required signs of purity. These special marks were well known to the priests, even if they were not explained to everyone.
The tail was also examined. The priest made sure that the hairs grew naturally and showed no signs of damage or abnormal growth. Only when the animal passed every part of this careful inspection was it considered acceptable for sacrifice.
Marking the Approved Animal
Once the animal was declared clean, the priest marked it in a special way. A piece of papyrus was twisted around the animal’s horns. To this papyrus, sealing clay was attached. The priest then stamped the clay with his own signet ring. This mark showed that the animal had been officially approved Guided Ephesus Tours.
It was strictly forbidden to sacrifice any animal that had not been marked in this way. The punishment for breaking this rule was death. This law shows how seriously the Egyptians treated their religious ceremonies and how important proper ritual was to them.
Preparing for the Sacrifice
When the time came for sacrifice, the marked animal was led to the altar. The priests placed wood on the altar and set it on fire. Before killing the animal, they poured a libation of wine onto the altar in front of it. At the same time, they called upon the god they were honoring, asking for favor and protection.
Only after these prayers and offerings did they kill the animal. The body was then skinned, and the priests prepared it according to religious rules.
The Treatment of the Head
The head of the animal was treated very differently from the rest of the body. After cutting it off, the priests spoke curses over it. These curses were meant to transfer any future evil away from the people and onto the head of the animal.
If the city had a marketplace and Greek traders were present, the head was taken there and sold immediately. However, if no Greeks lived in the city, the head was thrown into the river instead.
Meaning of the Curses and Rituals
The curse spoken over the head followed a clear purpose. The priests prayed that if any disaster or misfortune was about to fall upon the people making the sacrifice, or upon Egypt as a whole, it should instead fall upon the animal’s head.
These practices were common throughout Egypt and applied to all kinds of sacrifices. Because of this belief, Egyptians never ate the heads of animals. They believed the head carried away evil and should not be consumed.
