criobolium

noun

cri·​o·​bo·​li·​um
ˌkrīəˈbōlēəm
variants or less commonly crioboly
krīˈäbəlē
plural criobolia
-lēə
also criobolies
: a ceremony in the cult of certain Mediterranean deities (as Cybele and Attis) in which a ram was sacrificed so that the blood fell on the devotee compare taurobolium

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin criobolium, from Late Greek kriobolion, from Greek krios ram + -bolion (from Greek ballein to throw); akin to Latin cornu horn

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Cite this Entry

“Criobolium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criobolium. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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