What is Human sacrifice?
[[File:Codex Magliabechiano (141 cropped).jpg|thumb|Drawing of an [[Aztecs|Aztec]] sacrifice.]] '''Human sacrifice''' is the act of [[killing]] a [[human]] as an offering to a [[deity]] or other, normally [[supernatural]] power. It was practiced in many ancient [[culture]]s. The practice was different in different cultures. Some like the [[Mayan civilization|Mayans]] and [[Aztecs]] were notorious for their ritual killings, while other cultures have [[:wikt:condemn|condemned]] the practice as [[:wikt:barbaric|barbaric]]. [[Victim]]s were [[ritual]]ly killed in a manner that was supposed to please or appease [[deity|deitie]]s or [[spirit]]s. Victims ranged from [[Slavery|slaves]] or [[prisoner]]s to [[aristocrat]]s, and from [[Baby|infants]] to the [[Old age|elderly]]. In [[Ancient Rome]], [[Vestal Virgin]]s who broke their [[Promise|vow]] of [[chastity]] were ritually killed with their [[stomach|stomaches]] cut open, with a [[:wikt:sharp|sharp]] [[stone]] or [[knife]] and their [[heart]]s were burned. But most often, they were [[live burial|buried alive]]. Over time human sacrifice has become less common around the world, and sacrifices are now very rare. Most [[religion]]s condemn the practice and present-day [[law]]s generally treat it as [[murder]]. Nonetheless, it is still occasionally seen today, especially in the [[Least developed country|least developed areas]] of the world where traditional beliefs persist. ==Methods== Human sacrifice has been done through numerous methods including the following: * [[Combustion|Burning]] * [[Decapitation]] * [[Drowning]] * [[Live burial]] * [[Immurement]] * Dismemberment ==Phoenicia== The ancient Middle Eastern kingdom of [[Phoenicia]] practiced the sacrifice of their children to their god Moloch. It was said to be evil by the Jewish authors of the [[Bible]]. ==Aztec Empire == The [[Aztecs]] were particularly noted for practicing human sacrifice on a large scale; an offering to [[Huitzilopochtli]] would be made to restore the blood he lost, as the [[sun]] was engag