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XXI.—On the Expiatory and Substitutionary Sacrijices of the Greeks. 
By James Donatpson, LL.D. 
(Read 17th May 1875.) 
I have to explain at the outset that the title of my paper has been chosen 
for the sake of brevity. Both the words “expiatory” and “substitutionary” 
are liable to be misunderstood and abused in argument. I shall, therefore, 
avoid the word “expiate” as much as possible; but as I cannot do without a 
frequent use of the words “substitution ” and “substitutionary,” I merely note 
at present that there are various modes of substitution and various purposes 
served by it, and that it is very important in an argument to state accurately 
both the mode and the purpose. 
The object of my paper is to place the two prevalent theories of the origin 
of sacrifice in juxtaposition with the facts which we have in regard to Greek 
sacrifices, in order that we may see what light the facts may throw on the 
theories. For this purpose I first state the two theories. 
I.—Tur Two THEORIES OF THE ORIGIN OF SACRIFICE. 
The one theory supposes that man gradually emerged from a low state of 
intelligence and morality; that in the course of this emergence he formed the 
idea that there were celestial beings superior to himself and having control 
over him ; that he conceived these beings to possess the same appetites, desires, 
and passions as he himself had; and that, in order to gain the good-will and 
avert the anger of these beings, he offered them dainties which he imagined 
they ate, and he presented them with ornaments which they delighted to look 
on; he regaled them with sounds which they delighted to hear, and covered in 
houses for them in which they delighted occasionally to dwell. According to 
this theory, sacrifices were gifts of food or drink, or of a similar nature, by 
which, through giving real pleasure to the gods, men hoped to gain from them 
what they wanted. 
The other theory requires to be stated with greater caution, and I shall 
therefore adopt, for the most part, the words of the scholar who has given the 
best exposition of the subject,—LasauLx, in his treatise “ Die Suhnopfer der 
Griechen und Romer und ihr Verhialtnis zu dem einen auf Golgotha.” * 
According to him, “the siihnopfer,” or expiatory sacrifices, “are the centre of 
* It appeared first at Wiirzburg 1841, and afterwards in “Studien des Classischen Alterthums, 
Akademische Abhandlungen,” von Ernst von Lasautx. Regensburg, 1854. 
Vol, XXVII. PART Iv. 5X 
