(02-14-2021, 03:19 PM)Gawdzilla Sama Wrote:(02-14-2021, 03:00 AM)Dancefortwo Wrote: I'm no expert but I wonder if it started with animal worship. The Caves of Lascaux in France are 20,000 years old and depict a reverance and gratitude for the animals they hunted and ate. The concept that death would in turn keep you alive is something that was mysterious to them and made them feel appreciation and awe for the sacrificed animal. Jesus hanging on a cross sacrificing himself for your sins isn't all that removed from the animals pearced with arrows and painted on the walls of Lascaux who sacrificed their life too. Same stuff.The animals were literally life-of-death for the cave dudes and dudettes, and this makes me suspect they were trying to conjure the beasties with their imagery.
I think the cave paintings were MOSTLY about what they desired to return to hunt. There were probably some shamanistic aspects of curing human problems too. Though no examples of trepanning I recall... So it was more symbolic than practical.
Never argue with people who type fast and have too much time on their hands...
