Sacrifice in Greece

Pausanians  recorded that Herakles was worshiped both as a hero and as a god in sacrificial rituals in Sikyon.  He notes that in the town of Sikyon sacrifices were performed at the Herakles shrine according to the following custom.  First, whenever the Sikyonians slew a lamb and roasted the thighs on the altar, they ate some of the meat (which is typical of sacrifice to the gods), and offered the rest to the hero aspect of Herakles by  burning it (which is typical of sacrifice to heroes) (Guthrie 238; Pausanias 2.10.1).

Games and festivals

God and Hero

Dual worship: The problem of whether Herakles was worshipped as a hero of as a god puzzled most of the Greek theologist. Herodotos told the story that Herakles was one of the Twelve gods in Egypt and that a Greek woman of Egyptian origin named her son Herakles after this god who became the famous hero. Hence the greeks honored the god and the hero. Pindar simply calls Herakles “Hero-god” (heros theos) (Nem. 3.22).

Herakles and the Oracles in Literature

as seen in Homer etc.

Ritual and Ceremony

In terms of sociology and Anthropology ‘ritual’ and ceremony may designate a large range of social events, not all that may be religious or have some type of formal aspect.

Ritual as communication:

Greek and Roman Religion

Difference and Similarities

Temples and Altars/ Present day locations