Lindow Man: Ritual Sacrifice or Murder?

Question

If you already know the story, please share your opinion. If not, have fun researching, then come back and tell me.

What about his druid status, do you think it is likely that they would sacrifice one of their best? I am with the murder side more (partially because of the multiple manners in which he was killed and their sheer brutality).

Answer 1

Murder, as a sacrifice would probably have forgone the seemly random blows to the head before the fatal strangling (and throat cutting?)...

Answer 2

Yes, thank you for bring up the Bog People. I was waiting for a question like this to be brought up. Yes, he was sacrificed. My people, just like many Monotheisitic societies believed in ritual sacrifices. My father's side of the family came from Wales, and they talked much about that. If you saw Yde Girl, she was one as well. These were not murders, my ancestors made these sacrifices to please the Seasonal Gods. They wanted to have shorter to non-existant Winters. They thought that the peat bogs would answer to them.

Answer 3

To the extent of my knowledge on the subject, most of the bodies recovered showed no sign of struggle or self defense, which would indicate that they accepted their death, and even welcomed it. This would mean that it was sacrifice.

Many ancient religions believed in sacrifice, and made it a part of life. This would explain why the person being sacrificed did not put up a fight - it was part of life, and he was pleasing his gods.

Answer 4

I think it was a ritual sacrifice, why would someone go to such trouble to make sure someone was dead? This site has some theories on 'why'. If he was a druid he could have sacrificed himself to save his people, like it suggests.

Answer 5

Perhaps neither in our legal sense. How about an execution? Certain elements suggest to me that he was put to death for committing some offence.