Many Fish Sacrifices piscis -is m. [a fish]. piscor -ari dep. [to fish].   immolatio -onis f. [a sacrifice]. sacrificare . [to make holy]   piacularis - e [atoning , expiating]; n. pl. as subst. [expiatory sacrifice]. procuro - are [to take care of , look after; to manage, administer; to be a procurator; to sacrifice in order to avert evil]. facio facere feci factum [2 of 2] 'facere cum' , or 'ab homine', [to act on the side of, support; to sacrifice; to be serviceable, to suit, help, be of service]     Many Fish Sacrifices: is a reflection on the ritual processes of sacrifice, and its potential to reconcile the enigma of an untimely death, be it through accident, murder or disease. Principally, sacrifices fall into two categories, that of supplication, which is intended to provoke good fortune, and sacrifices of expiation, which are offered to appease the divine wrath kindled by humanity's transgressions. The fish species used are from either the freshwater or coastal regions near the site of the individual's death.   The use of Latin in the column providing the genus name is for the purposes of potential invocation during ritual practise. To the right are three pages from a ledger which documents over 1800 deaths.

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© Bronia Iwanczak 2002