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Ancient Persian priests performing ritual sacrifices
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Ancient Persian priests performing ritual sacrifices
Ancient Persian priests in white robes performing ritual sacrifices at a pyre. Pireo e Sacerdoti Persi. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Giovanni Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrarios Costumes Ancient and Modern of the Peoples of the World, Il Costume Antico e Moderno, Florence, 1847
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Media ID 23384382
© Florilegius
Antico Antonio Babys Baptism Ceremonies Ceremony Disciple Ferrario Giovanni Giulio Initiation Moderno Mouth Peoples Persia Persian Priest Priests Pyre Ritual Sacrifices Sasso Wash Zoroastrianism
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In this handcoloured copperplate engraving by Giovanni Antonio Sasso, we witness a group of Ancient Persian priests, clad in white robes, engaged in the performance of a ritual sacrifice. The scene unfolds at a pyre, with the priests gathered around it, their solemn faces reflecting the gravity of the moment. The priests, identified as Guebro or Guebri, were an essential part of the Zoroastrian religious tradition in Persia. They served as mediators between the divine world and the human realm, performing various rituals and ceremonies to ensure the maintenance of cosmic order and harmony. The ritual depicted in the engraving appears to be an initiation ceremony, as indicated by the presence of a young child being washed in water and having his mouth filled with it. This rite of passage symbolized the purification and cleansing of the initiate, preparing him to join the ranks of the priesthood and serve the deities. The priests perform the sacrifice by holding the animal's head over the pyre, invoking the blessings of the gods. The smoke and flames from the pyre rise upwards, symbolizing the connection between the earthly realm and the divine. This historical illustration, taken from Giulio Ferrario's "Costumes Ancient and Modern of the Peoples of the World," offers a fascinating glimpse into the religious practices of Ancient Persia. The meticulous detail and vibrant colours of the engraving transport us back in time, allowing us to witness the solemnity and reverence of this ancient ritual.
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