Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 121
Chapter Ten— Redemption or Atonement It is evident from the last chapter that the pagans believed in the sacramental sufferings, death, and resurrection of their gods Adonis, Attis, Osiris, Mithra, etc. , who had died ‘for the sins of mankind’. Primitive and semi-civilised idolaters of various coun- tries, especially West Africans, had many forms of sacrifice. In the annual ‘customs’ of Dahomey, now abolished, hundreds of human victims were sacrificed. Three main forms of human sac- rifice existed in this area: (1) The scapegoat; (2) the messenger; and (3) the expiation, but combinations were not infrequent. The victim was oft kept in captivity and well fed; to transfer their sins people laid their hands upon him as he was led in procession, his head covered with ashes; on the way to the place of sacrifice were three enclosures, the second open to chief and priests only, the