Meat for Gods

The abundance of food in Mesopotamia is evident on the records of what presented to the gods and goddesses, who needed to eat four times a day.

The meat gifts can be seen as a way of bringing the gods closer to the worshippers during the ritual by offering the food of the kind that men prepare and eat.

The gifts of meat led more weight to the god’s part of ritual and constitute an additional way for worshippers to show their respect for the gods.

The main god, Anu, and three main goddesses, Antu, Ishtar and Nayana got thirty love of bread a day each.

There was also much meat given every day to them and to other minor divinities, about then total at the four meals.

The butchers had to recite prayers of thanks to the gods and goddesses as they slaughtered the animals. Pliny writes that without prayers the sacrifice is useless.

Then the priest placed the food on golden platters and set it before the gods, perhaps on a table.

While mortals ate just as gladly flesh obtained in the hunt, the gods accepted only the sacrifice of domestic animas.

The gods it was believed, enjoyed the smell of the burned sacrifice. Whether the meat is of oxen, sheep, goat or pigs, the food is carefully shared out.

The burned offerings are usually associated with petitions or entreaties set before god. The general purpose for sacrifice in the ancient world was to appease the anger of the gods by gifts of food, and drink.
Meat for Gods