by Horatius Piscinus on Sun Jul 25, 2004 3:28 pm
Salvete
Rome outlawed human sacrifice during the Middle Republic, in 193 BCE if I recall.
The Romans accused Carthage of the practice and Diodorus Siculus gave a description of the practice, neither of which can be taken at face value. Polybius is a more credible source, and was with Aemilius Scipio in 146 when Carthage was destroyed. Polybius makes no mention of child sacrifices. In one article I read, in Archaeology Odyssey Nov/Dec 2000 issue, M'Hamad Hassine Fantar argued against the common view that accepts child sacrifice by Carthaginians. There was found at Carthage a cemetary for children. I think I would have to agree with Fantar that we should not assume it was meant for sacrificial victims. Infant mortality being rather high, the Carthaginians may have simply had a separate cemetary for infants and small children. In itself the cemetary does not offer any proof of infant sacrifice, and from what I gather about the remains they too do not indicate child sacrifice, certainly not like Diodorus described. Ignoring the word of their enemies, the other evidence that is offered, based on Biblical passages, is doubtful.
In times of stress, Romans and Greeks practiced human sacrifice and infant sacrifice. If a plague came on the city that was especially hard on infants, then people tended to sacrifice a few infants to appease the gods in hope of saving the rest. I think that was probably the case with the Carthaginians as well. Some infant sacrifices, but not a regular practice as the exaggerations of their enemies would like us to believe.
Valete
M Horatius Piscinus
Sapere aude!