Many ancient cultures viewed “human sacrifice” as a gruesome yet normal part of their lives.
Gruesome Living Sacrifice Rituals in History
1. The Sacred Well of the Maya
Religion played a vital role in the spiritual life of the Maya people of Itza. According to ancient Maya texts, droughts were believed to be the result of the Water God’s anger. To appease this deity, they had to offer a 14-year-old virgin girl into the well. The ancients believed that by being thrown into the well, the girl would become a servant to the Water God, enjoying delicious food, beautiful clothing, and a life of ease. However, even in years of stable climate without droughts or disasters, the Maya priesthood still chose a beautiful girl to thank the Water God. People gathered from far and wide at the temple next to the sacred well, which measured 60 meters long and 30 meters high, adorned with carvings of the Water God, depicted as a winged serpent.
The chosen girl wore a splendid outfit, waiting in the temple. Surrounding her were many strong young men clad in gold armor, ready to safely escort the “bride” of the rain god to the sacred well. The ceremony commenced at dawn, with the “bride” being placed in a floral palanquin and blessed by the priests. The unfortunate girl was given a magical drink to calm her nerves. The procession would carry her to the sacred well along a 400-meter path. Upon arrival, the young girl was tossed into the air by the guardian boys before falling freely into the sacred well. At this moment, drums would sound, and the crowd would dance and sing, while the wealthy threw gold, silver, and jewels into the well, praying for peace.
Since the mid-16th century, when European colonizers conquered South America, Maya cities like Chichen Itza began to decline. After this period, no one organized living sacrifices at the sacred well. Archaeological studies have revealed more than 100 human skeletons at the bottom of the sacred well, along with many ancient treasures and artifacts.
2. Human Sacrifice for Victory in Battle
Ancient Hawaiians believed that living sacrifices could please the god Ku – the deity of war and defense, ensuring their victory in battles.
The sacrifice was performed at the Heiau temple, where leaders of rival tribes would be captured and hung upside down on a wooden frame. After their sweat was used by the priest to anoint their bodies, the victims would be beaten until their flesh was tenderized and ultimately disemboweled.
But the ritual didn’t end there – the flesh of the sacrificed individuals would be “cooked or eaten raw” by the priest and the chief of the Hawaiian tribe.
3. Human Life to Keep the Sun Alive
The Aztecs believed that human sacrifices were necessary to keep the Sun from ever dying. Blood was considered “the sustenance of life bestowed by the deities” and the Sun God Huitzilopochtli needed it to survive and thrive.
The victims of this brutal sacrificial ritual included a volunteer and a member from other tribes captured by the Aztecs after war. The priest would use a knife to cut from the throat to the abdomen of the victim, extracting the heart and offering it to the gods.
According to the ritual, the victim would ascend the stairs of the temple on their own. Upon reaching the final step, a priest would cut from the throat to the abdomen, extracting the heart and offering it to the gods. The remaining body would later be dismembered and discarded in the temple’s basement.
4. Sacrifice by Dismembering the Body
Using humans as sacrificial offerings was historically common in ancient China, particularly during the Shang Dynasty – the first recorded dynasty in Chinese history.
According to archaeologists, this ritual served two purposes: first, to control political issues, and second, to serve religious connections. Experts believe there were three types of human sacrifice rituals during the Shang Dynasty. The first was conducted in underground chambers, where young boys were chosen as victims. Their bodies were dismembered and buried.
The second ritual involved infants and young children. Archaeological evidence shows that these children suffered a very painful and brutal death. The final ritual, unlike the previous two, involved girls who were sacrificed and buried very carefully, their bodies remaining completely intact.
5. Sacrifice as Torture
The Etruscans were an ancient people who lived in Tuscany, Italy. They were primarily farmers and merchants who traded between Greece and Carthage. The victims of sacrifice endured brutal torture before death. Experts have found several bones of adults, children, and even infants that the Etruscans used for sacrifices in Tarquinia (Italy). Most of these were foreigners, sick individuals, or those of low social status.
Additionally, researchers have gained insight into the sacrificial rituals performed by the Etruscans, which included stone altars, a box containing ritual tools such as trumpets, axes, and shields.
6. Live Burial with the “Corpse” of the Husband
Many Egyptologists believe that in ancient times, the Egyptians practiced live human sacrifice. Although some experts disagree with this view, the tombs used for sacrifices in Abydos have been discovered as undeniable evidence.
It is highly likely that the ancient Egyptians sacrificed attendants or the wives of Pharaohs to continue serving the king after death. Egyptologist George Reisner suggested that the attendants found in the tombs of kings Djer and Aha were buried alive along with their tools and equipment.
Reisner also hypothesized that the wife of King Djer was buried alive alongside the king’s corpse. However, these sacrificial rituals were eventually abolished and replaced by burying Ushabti – statuettes of attendants placed in the tombs of Pharaohs to serve them.
7. Offering Life for Peace
The Incas believed that sacrificing children to the gods was a way to prevent natural disasters. The Inca Empire had suffered numerous calamities, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and floods.
The Incas believed these natural disasters were controlled by the gods. By offering their lives to the divine, they hoped for peace in their lives.
Most sacrificial victims were prisoners, however, some children also became victims of this brutal ritual. Children were considered the purest beings to be offered to the gods. The Inca believed that after becoming a sacrifice, children would experience greater happiness and peace in another life.
Before being killed, these children were carefully taken care of with delicious meals, festivals to honor their sacrifice, and even had the opportunity to meet the king. The Inca firmly believed that after becoming a sacrifice, they would enjoy happiness and tranquility in another existence.
