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holokaustos

Holokaustos refers to a type of sacrificial offering in ancient Greek religion. The term is derived from the Greek words "holos," meaning whole, and "kaiein," meaning to burn. Therefore, a holokaustos was an offering in which the sacrificial animal was completely burned on the altar, with no part reserved for consumption by the worshippers or priests.

This practice stood in contrast to a "thy sacrifice," where only a portion of the animal, typically

The act of total burning symbolized absolute dedication and was considered a more potent form of worship,

the
bones
and
fat,
was
offered
to
the
gods
by
fire,
while
the
meat
was
shared
among
the
participants
in
a
communal
feast.
The
holokaustos,
by
its
total
consumption,
represented
a
complete
and
irrevocable
gift
to
the
divine.
It
was
often
used
in
specific
contexts,
such
as
offerings
to
chthonic
(underworld)
deities
like
Persephone
and
Hades,
or
in
rites
of
purification
and
appeasement.
intended
to
please
or
placate
powerful
gods.
The
smoke
rising
from
the
altar
was
believed
to
carry
the
essence
of
the
offering
directly
to
the
deities.
While
less
common
than
shared
sacrifices,
the
holokaustos
held
significant
symbolic
importance
in
the
religious
life
of
ancient
Greece,
reflecting
a
deeper
level
of
devotion
and
surrender
to
the
will
of
the
gods.
The
concept
is
a
key
element
for
understanding
the
complexities
of
ancient
Greek
sacrificial
rituals.