Themis, a study of the social origins of Greek ... - Warburg Institute

144 Totemism, Sacrament and Sacrifice [oh.
this resurrection is meant to act magically. The worshippers
taste the flesh to get the mana of the ox, and to do that they
must slay him. To taste the flesh is good, but best of all is it
that the ox himself should on his resurrection renew his life and
strength.
It is not a little remarkable that in the detailed accounts we
have of the Bouphonia, all mention of Zeus, to whom it is supposed
the sacrifice is made, is conspicuously absent. The ox is indeed
said to have been driven up to the table of Zeus Polieus, but on
that table the offering of cakes and the like is already complete.
It is clear that the Bouphonia is just what its name says, an
ox-murder that might be connected with any and every god. It is
the sacrifice itself, not the service of the god, that is significant
the ox bulks larger than Zeus.
Fig. 24.
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