virgin sacrifice
Purity-demanding immolation rite
Virgin sacrifice refers to the ritual killing of a person—typically a young woman—who has never had sexual intercourse, offered to appease gods or supernatural forces.
The practice appears throughout ancient cultures and mythology, from Aztec temples to Greek legend.
In modern usage, the phrase often appears sarcastically or in fantasy contexts: What do they want, a virgin sacrifice?
The emphasis on virginity reflects ancient beliefs connecting sexual purity with spiritual value or potency.
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- altarSacred ritual table
- maidenUnmarried young woman
- purityUncontaminated quality
- offeringSomething presented or given
ancient ritual · pure of heart · blood offering · blood · temple · high priest · gods · ancient · innocence · ceremony · priest · death · rite · fertility rite · appeasement · pagan · knife · white
- puritypure, purity, pristine, spotless, spotlessness
virgin sacrificeresurrection
Revival from death
deliverance · redemption · mercy · rescue · liberation
virgin, virginal, virginity, virgins, sacrifice, sacrifices, sacrificed, sacrificing, sacrificial