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A collection of bull blood altars...
Surphing trough France, you find surprising places. In the neighbourhood of the village of Condom, known for its armagnac liquor, found the old city of Lectoure. A hamlet with 4.000 inhabitants, an old church and some vestige walls. Not really something to go for. But weight, there is a museum. That's not very special either. But the Musée Lapidaire posesses collection d'autels tauroboliques unique en Europe.
I beg you pardon? You said?. I do speak a reasonable french, but I don't get the point. Unique en Europe, that's no problem. An autel is an altar. Bu teauroboliques must have something to do with bulls...
A bit of googling gives the answer. Turns out the goddess Cybè was worshipped in many places in Europe in the 3d en 4th century AC. Her believers were baptized with the blood of recently castrated bulls.
By the way, Cybèle nowadays is better known under her Greek name Rhea. She was the mother of Zeus.
Posted by Peter on december 14, 2005 at 07:35 AM
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