10 Strange Ancient Rituals That Actually Made Sense at the Time
Many ancient rituals may seem bizarre today, but they once served practical or spiritual purposes.
- Chris Graciano
- 2 min read
Throughout history, civilizations developed rituals to honor gods, protect their people, or make sense of the unknown. Here are 10 strange ancient rituals that actually made sense at the time. While some of these customs seem shocking by today’s standards, they had logical explanations within their cultural context.
1. Mummification (Ancient Egypt)
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The Egyptians believed that preserving the body was essential for the afterlife. Through an elaborate embalming process, they ensured that the deceased could live eternally.
2. Foot Binding (China)
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For nearly a thousand years, Chinese girls had their feet tightly wrapped to keep them small, a sign of beauty and status. Though painful and restrictive, bound feet increased a woman’s marriage prospects in elite society.
3. Human Sacrifice (Aztecs)
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The Aztecs believed that the gods required human blood to keep the universe in balance. Victims were often prisoners of war, and their sacrifice was seen as an honor.
4. Spartan Infanticide (Ancient Greece)
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Sparta prioritized military strength above all else, and newborns were inspected at birth. If deemed weak or unfit, they were abandoned to maintain a society of warriors.
5. Tooth Sharpening (Various Cultures)
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From Maya to African tribes, their members filed or sharpened their teeth for beauty, status, or spiritual protection. In some societies, pointed teeth symbolized strength or connection to the gods.
6. Sati (Ancient India)
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Sati was a ritual where widows were expected to throw themselves onto their husband’s funeral pyre. It was seen as an act of devotion, ensuring both would reunite in the afterlife.
7. Sky Burials (Tibet)
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Instead of burying or cremating their dead, Tibetans practiced sky burials—leaving bodies on mountaintops for vultures to consume. This ritual reflected Buddhist beliefs about the impermanence of the body.
8. Gladiator Battles (Ancient Rome)
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What seems like brutal entertainment today was originally a religious tribute. Gladiator fights started as funerary rites, honoring the dead by offering blood to the gods.
9. Viking Funeral Pyres (Scandinavia)
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Vikings sent off their dead in burning ships, believing the flames carried them to Valhalla. This dramatic ritual was meant to ensure a warrior’s transition to the afterlife.
10. The Oracle of Delphi (Ancient Greece)
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People traveled great distances to hear cryptic prophecies from the priestess at Delphi. She inhaled mysterious fumes, believed to be divine, before delivering her visions.