#18: Memories of Anatolian Gods? (c.1902)
The impulse to offer sacrifice, substituting the blood
or life or limb of one for another, was almost universal
in Asia Minor and met widespread response from people of
all classes and creeds. The ceremony seems to have been
prompted by the monitions of conscience which suggested
feelings of guilt or fear. It was of piacular rather
than honorific character, that is for reconciliation
with a feared and possibly alienated God, or as atonement
for possible sins, rather than as a merely worshipful or
convivial meal. The victim usually was a male, young and
free from physical blemish. Especially acceptable animals
were sheep, goats, cattle, cocks, deer and wild goats.
Tradition avers that at some shrines deer used formerly
to stalk out of the forest and present themselves for
offering annually, but in these degenerate days such
wonderful religion is realized no more. Still a true
believer should renew his faith annually by eating the
flesh of a wild goat caught and killed as an offering.
Cattle, especially calves, were much used and abundant
archaeological evidence all around us showed that in
early days the people, especially the Hittites,
cultivated a great system of cattle worship. Then
it was with renewed interest and understanding that
we read how the Israelites when they went astray
from the worship of Jehovah proceeded to make and
worship a golden calf with immoral Hittite orgies
which were always forbidden in the Bible.
.......................................................
I was once in a picnic high up among the beautiful
Anatolian mountains and beside a beautiful mountain
spring. While we were lunching another party arrived,
who built a fire, killed a goat that they had brought,
and roasted the meat of which they presented some
choice pieces to our party, urging us to eat, and
thereby become active, or at least tacit, partakers
in their petition. They did not inform us of the
object of their prayers and in view of the
circumstances it would not have been good form
to inquire. The leader, a Redhead or Shia Turk,
was accompanied by his wife and an Armenian cattle
lifter. The spot was much frequented by young
mothers to induce an abundant flow of milk.
In general each village or perhaps community or
region had its sacred place, apart from church or
mosque. This was often on some high hill, under
a green tree, near a flowing stream or fountain,
and beside a sacred grave with its enclosing wall
of stone or near a stone pillar. The presence of
the saint ensures powerful intersection in behalf
of the loyal people of his parish and of any
humble worshipper.
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