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The disembowelling and burning are, however, different in different
sacrifices. I will mention the mode in use with respect to the goddess
whom they regard as the greatest, and honour with the chiefest
festival. When they have flayed their steer they pray, and when their
prayer is ended they take the paunch of the animal out entire, leaving
the intestines and the fat inside the body; they then cut off the
legs, the ends of the loins, the shoulders, and the neck; and having
so done, they fill the body of the steer with clean bread, honey,
raisins, figs, frankincense, myrrh, and other aromatics. Thus
filled, they burn the body, pouring over it great quantities of oil.
Before offering the sacrifice they fast, and while the bodies of the
victims are being consumed they beat themselves. Afterwards, when
they have concluded this part of the ceremony, they have the other
parts of the victim served up to them for a repast.
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