The Knife, Sacrifice and Meaning

Tim Simmons · 21st September 2007, 06:26 PM

Ariel can you back that statement up {human flesh the main source of protein} Guinea Pigs, Dogs, Rabbits and so on. Would have made a very disturbing shambles next to the flowers stalls in Mexico city.

I have been thinking about self decapitation {not literally} with a knife like a spokeshave as mentioned in Elgoods Hindu Arms. Is this posible? can one finish the job once the spinal cord is cut? Sounds like fun.

Bill M · 21st September 2007, 06:39 PM

The Mayans were primarily an agricultural people with very little meat of any kind. The meat they did have was usually wild game and considered a great luxury.

ariel · 21st September 2007, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Ariel can you back that statement up {human flesh the main source of protein} Guinea Pigs, Dogs, Rabbits and so on. Would have made a very disturbing shambles next to the flowers stalls in Mexico city.

Here it is. It is hotly disputed, of course, and the critics try to minimize the "nutrient" component of the ritual.
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/7752
The argument, essentially, is what was the relative %% of ritualistic motives vs. just dietary ones: "Mumbo-jumbo" vs. " Aztek gumbo"

Tim Simmons · 21st September 2007, 09:35 PM

Interesting.
I am not surprised it is hotly disputed. It is hardly heavy weight. No basis in eyewitness and Spanish accounts. Whoever wrote this must think that south of the border nothing green grows. I am astonished that it is being read at all. I wonder what real historians would make of it.

Just think of all the very lovely food stuffs that came from that part of the world and the huge population not the product of man eats man society. I believe there is some basis for a scenario akin to man eats man at one time in the Easter Islands but even then I am not sure the consumption of human flesh was as blahsay as pork chop night!

ariel · 22nd September 2007, 12:10 AM

Many societies practiced human sacrifice. However, they made war to enslave as many prisoners as possible and sacrificed a few to please their gods. Only Azteks ate all their prisoners, and even had a term " Corn-man" for them. They did not practice husbandry and animal flesh was not easily available. But to satisfy hunger one needs fat, and even milkfat was not available ( even vegetarian Jainists have unlimited supply of ghee). Corn oil?
one can get protein from beans but as the only source it is inefficient. Large amounts of beans? Dread to think about gastrointestinal consequences

spiral · 22nd September 2007, 01:02 AM

mmmmm A mate of mine who was recruited from a minor Brit army unit for SAS training in total contradiction of supposed sellection & volunteering process

when we were only both about 20 , He did stand out though he was above Genuis IQ, spoke 5 languages & as brave as any man ive met in an All Saints road pub or party or other dubios situations one can find themselves in as a young man etc, said he was told during training Human meat sharpens brain & eyesight more than most meats, if just lightly barbecued? could that be true? I dont know.

Might be an old wifes tale, but the fellow who told me presumed those who taught him new what it was all about.

(on another take re. sacrifice, if anyone wants a few second Dashien festival clip of Brit army Gurkhas beheading a large buffalo with one blow of a kukri , send email to spiraltwista@aol.com with kukri vid in title. & ill send you one.}

Spiral.

21st September 2007, 09:35 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	Interesting. I am not surprised it is hotly disputed. It is hardly heavy weight. No basis in eyewitness and Spanish accounts. Whoever wrote this must think that south of the border nothing green grows. I am astonished that it is being read at all. I wonder what real historians would make of it. Just think of all the very lovely food stuffs that came from that part of the world and the huge population not the product of man eats man society. I believe there is some basis for a scenario akin to man eats man at one time in the Easter Islands but even then I am not sure the consumption of human flesh was as blahsay as pork chop night! Last edited by Tim Simmons; 21st September 2007 at 09:52 PM.

21st September 2007, 06:26 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	Ariel can you back that statement up {human flesh the main source of protein} Guinea Pigs, Dogs, Rabbits and so on. Would have made a very disturbing shambles next to the flowers stalls in Mexico city. I have been thinking about self decapitation {not literally} with a knife like a spokeshave as mentioned in Elgoods Hindu Arms. Is this posible? can one finish the job once the spinal cord is cut? Sounds like fun.

21st September 2007, 06:39 PM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	The Mayans were primarily an agricultural people with very little meat of any kind. The meat they did have was usually wild game and considered a great luxury.

22nd September 2007, 12:10 AM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Many societies practiced human sacrifice. However, they made war to enslave as many prisoners as possible and sacrificed a few to please their gods. Only Azteks ate all their prisoners, and even had a term " Corn-man" for them. They did not practice husbandry and animal flesh was not easily available. But to satisfy hunger one needs fat, and even milkfat was not available ( even vegetarian Jainists have unlimited supply of ghee). Corn oil? one can get protein from beans but as the only source it is inefficient. Large amounts of beans? Dread to think about gastrointestinal consequences

22nd September 2007, 01:02 AM	#6
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	mmmmm A mate of mine who was recruited from a minor Brit army unit for SAS training in total contradiction of supposed sellection & volunteering process when we were only both about 20 , He did stand out though he was above Genuis IQ, spoke 5 languages & as brave as any man ive met in an All Saints road pub or party or other dubios situations one can find themselves in as a young man etc, said he was told during training Human meat sharpens brain & eyesight more than most meats, if just lightly barbecued? could that be true? I dont know. Might be an old wifes tale, but the fellow who told me presumed those who taught him new what it was all about. (on another take re. sacrifice, if anyone wants a few second Dashien festival clip of Brit army Gurkhas beheading a large buffalo with one blow of a kukri , send email to spiraltwista@aol.com with kukri vid in title. & ill send you one.} Spiral.