Cult of Ásaríus
Cattle have been raised in the area around the modern city of Krelissía in the southern Sikíron Empire since neolithic era, and before then wild cattle were hunted extensively by the early inhabitants. The people of Krelissía have worshipped Ásaríus, a god depicted as part man, part bull, in a shrine since the earliest days of the city, which is now the site of one of the most impressive temples in all of Sikíron.
Many Sikíronians visiting the city assume Ásaríus to be a local aspect of the more widely known Fanasíus, both of which are depicted as minotaurs, though the former is associated with wealth, healing and cowherds while the latter is a general fertility deity.
Sacred cows, chosen by priests for their specific features, roam the pasture surrounding the temple, and their milk is believed to have healing properties. One of the main duties of the priests of Ásaríus is to milk the cows and give some to the sick and injured who visit the temple. Local healers also bake small cakes with the milk as a panacea.
Whenever any of the sacred cows dies, the head is removed, replaced by a wooden or terracotta one and mounted on a wall within the temple, after which the animal is given an elaborate burial outside Krelissía. Every few years, some of the oldest skulls are collected and placed in other shrines throughout the city and beyond to make room for new ones, and fragments of broken skulls are highly sought by after by locals as apotropaic devices.
The whole city mourns the loss of one their sacred cows, and celebrates whenever a new one is added to the herd with processions, ancient ritual dances and much revelry.
Many Sikíronians visiting the city assume Ásaríus to be a local aspect of the more widely known Fanasíus, both of which are depicted as minotaurs, though the former is associated with wealth, healing and cowherds while the latter is a general fertility deity.
Sacred cows, chosen by priests for their specific features, roam the pasture surrounding the temple, and their milk is believed to have healing properties. One of the main duties of the priests of Ásaríus is to milk the cows and give some to the sick and injured who visit the temple. Local healers also bake small cakes with the milk as a panacea.
Whenever any of the sacred cows dies, the head is removed, replaced by a wooden or terracotta one and mounted on a wall within the temple, after which the animal is given an elaborate burial outside Krelissía. Every few years, some of the oldest skulls are collected and placed in other shrines throughout the city and beyond to make room for new ones, and fragments of broken skulls are highly sought by after by locals as apotropaic devices.
The whole city mourns the loss of one their sacred cows, and celebrates whenever a new one is added to the herd with processions, ancient ritual dances and much revelry.
Type
Religious, Sect
Related Ethnicities
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