The relationship between man and animal in a religious context: the disappearance of the sacrificial rite during late antiquity
2014
Abstract
Late Antiquity marks a major turning point with regard to the changes in social, political and religious context. The more interesting issue is represented, in my opinion, from rampant religious syncretism, which then becomes henotheism and ends with Christian monotheism.
The animal sacrifice, first practiced mostly in mystery cults, being tolerated gradually disappears, to be prohibited, with the advent of the new religion. My study, therefore, is based on the analysis of historical sources and historiography, with attention to religious issues and ideological thinking, during the period of Late Antiquity, with particular attention to the advent of Sol Invictus.