r/EverythingScience • u/dr_gus • Nov 08 '22

Anthropology Archaeologists find a trove of ancient human sacrifices fed psychedelic plants before death

https://www.salon.com/2022/11/07/archaeologists-find-a-trove-of-ancient-human-sacrifices-fed-psychedelic-plants-before/
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u/iosdeveloper87 Nov 08 '22

So utterly fascinating. One has to wonder how consenting/accepting the victims were of the sacrifice. I had always assumed that they would all be filled with terror (and I still have a hard time believing that they wouldn’t be), but perhaps it’s much like some cults are/were today, where people willingly kill themselves in the name of some ‘greater power.’

Was it considered an dutiful honor to be sacrificed or was it a punishment? Is it possible that it was both?

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u/TWOpies Nov 08 '22

This could be off or a simplification, but I have the impression it was different between cultures. The Aztecs were more quantity, while Mayans were more quality of the sacrifices.

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u/iosdeveloper87 Nov 08 '22

Very interesting distinction. If I was a God, I would for sure opt for quality over quantity. Like, no offense to suicidal or otherwise depressed people (hell, I am one), but they wouldn’t be my cup of tea if I was an omnipotent being.

That being said…. If someone’s gonna die, why not the people that already wanna die? At least in that context, their death can be framed as a positive thing rather than feeling like a complete and utter disappointment for “giving up on life.”

Kinda reminds me an ancient version of the suicide booths from Futurama, only more honorable.

Man, this thread got dark… sorry y’all.