Human sacrifice emerged during the transition from nomadic societies to settled civilizations as a tool of class oppression.
Creating internal 'others' reinforced social identities and prevented assimilation.
Sacrificial myths blurred the line between violence and communal practices for social cohesion.
Social welfare systems in ancient societies maintained power dynamics and social hierarchies.
Harmony restoration in communities involves directing aggression towards a single victim.
Violence is often rooted in a quest for identity and control, defining societal boundaries.
Deep dives
The Emergence of Hierarchy and Tyranny in Human Societies
The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled civilizations led to the emergence of hierarchy and tyranny. States and institutions of authority developed to enforce compliance through physical coercion or death, marking a shift from voluntary kinship-based relationships. The monopoly of violence by states replaced decentralized forms of security and justice seen in kinship groups, leading to the consolidation of power structures.
The Role of Internal 'Others' in Defining Social Identities
The concept of creating an internal 'other' within a society emerged as a means to reinforce collective social identities when external enemies were absent. By establishing internal social hierarchies, such as internal underclasses, societies maintained cohesion and defined boundaries. The presence of internal 'others' enforced social distinctions and prevented assimilation, serving as a mechanism for identity preservation.
Sacrificial Myths and Internal Violence
Sacrificial myths, like the story of Apollonius of Tyana, illustrate a pattern of internal violence and community scapegoating as religious rituals. These acts of community violence were often veiled under myths of divine appeasement or miraculous cures for societal ailments. The perpetuation of sacrificial myths blurred the line between grotesque acts of violence and sanctioned communal practices, reinforcing social cohesion through shared violence directed at perceived enemies or threats.
Social Welfare and Reinforcement of Social Hierarchies
Social welfare systems and distribution of resources, such as in ancient societies like the Aztecs or medieval Europe, were designed to maintain and reinforce social hierarchies. The allocation of food and resources based on social status imposed power dynamics and emphasized distinctions between privileged classes and marginalized populations. These practices served to entrench existing power structures and perpetuate social inequalities.
Violent Restitution in Communities
Restoring harmony in communities sometimes involves directing aggression towards a single victim without means to retaliate, relieving tension and reaffirming community identity.
Historical Examples of Collective Victimization
Throughout history, communities facing instability designate a sacrificial victim to restore harmony, such as the scapegoating of Jews in Weimar Germany, reflecting the power dynamics and social unity achieved through collective victimization.
Complex Societies' Perception of the Universe
Early civilizations often viewed the universe as a realm of contesting wills rather than impersonal forces, reflecting a deep anxiety towards the capricious nature of life and the universe's unpredictability.
Ceremonial Inauguration of Rulers
The ritualistic inauguration of rulers, like the Aztec tlatoani, underscored the complex relationship between human authority and divine power, highlighting the ambivalence and sacred transformation in assuming leadership roles within a society.
Social Order and Power Dynamics
Fools and gestures were historically allowed to challenge social norms and hierarchies, offering a unique perspective to kings who were typically surrounded by followers aiming to please. In various cultures, including Europe and Polynesia, rituals like parodies and inversions provided temporary relief by mocking the elite and highlighting the arbitrary nature of social structures. This served as a way for rulers to vent pressure and for the populace to witness the powerful being humbled.
Violence and Power Assertion
The podcast delves into the insecurities of leaders, illustrating how violence is often rooted in a quest for identity and control. The narrative explores how boundaries, whether personal or societal, are defined and defended through acts of violence. By examining historical examples and literary references, the podcast highlights how violence can be a means of self-assertion and a demonstration of power.
Symbolism and Sacrifice in Societal Transition
The podcast examines the profound symbolism and sacrificial rituals in societies undergoing transitions or facing uncertainties. Through examples from different cultures, such as the Aztecs and folk traditions, it portrays how sacrifices, whether of animals or humans, were believed to appease gods or seek favors. These rituals reflect the deep-rooted anxieties and attempts to establish order amidst chaos, showcasing how societies grappled with existential questions and the balance between degradation and renewal.
“Mexica ‘beliefs’ have been discussed confidently enough, but academics being natural theologians, usually at an unnaturally abstract pitch. My interest is not in belief at this formal level, but in sensibility: the emotional, moral, and aesthetic nexus through which thought comes to be expressed in action, and so made public, visible, and accessible to our observation.”
-Inga Clenninden | Aztecs: An Interpretation
Human sacrifice is not a human universal. The institution emerges at a specific stage of human sociopolitical development, and recedes when the transition is complete. Rarely found among nomadic hunter-gatherers, ritual homicide is also nearly absent in archaic civilizations (except for a few residual instances such as royal burials). But human beings didn’t make the leap from nomadic foragers to pyramid builders overnight. Nestled between was a transitional stage, when newly-settled people faced the monumental task of ditching the ancient kinship system, sacrificing their freedom to kings, and reorganizing themselves into the first states. This fraught transition was imposed by violence, as primitive egalitarianism was replaced by class oppression, and human sacrifice was employed to define social boundaries and to stave off panic with brutal acts of self-assertion. Kings gloried in their total freedom, the less fortunate were terrorized into submission, and the gods looked on with dripping fangs and growling stomachs.
If you would like to donate to help put some kibble in my bowl, you can do it at Patreon, or PayPal (email: martyrmade at gmail.com). Thank you to those of you who have donated, I really don’t know what to say other than that. Thank you.
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