Transformations in Sacrificial Practices

The main thrust of the contributions in this volume run counter to the notion of a universally applicable theory of sacrifice, and rather aimed at investigating transformations in sacrificial practices from cross-cultural and transhistorical perspectives. Exploring a broad spectrum of texts, case studies and social practices from Greco-Roman antiquity as well as the Ancient Near East and Egypt to the modern Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Indonesia diverging cultural perceptions and definitions of the topic "sacrifice" are examined and thereby new insights into the processes of modification and transformation of sacrificial rituals are gained.

Eftychia Stavrianopoulou is Adjunct Professor of Ancient History at the University of Heidelberg and research fellow of the Collaborative Research Centre "Ritual Dynamics" (SFB 619).

Axel Michaels is Professor of Classical Indology at the South Asia Institute of the University of Heidelberg and spokesman of the Collaborative Research Centre "Ritual Dynamics" (SFB 619).

Claus Ambos is Assyriologist at the Department of Languages and Cultures of the Near East of the University of Heidelberg and research fellow of the Collaborative Research Centre "Ritual Dynamics" (SFB 619).