A religious ritual in ancient Rome, especially associated with the cult of Cybele, involving animal sacrifice or the shedding of ritual blood.
From Greek 'krios' (ram) plus 'boule' or Latin 'bolium' (relating to throwing or casting), or possibly from Greek 'ballo' (to throw); the exact etymology is debated, but it refers to ancient sacrifice rituals.
The criobolium was more dramatic than other ancient sacrifices: a believer would stand in a pit while a ram was sacrificed above, letting the blood cascade over them in a ritualistic 'rebirth' ceremony—ancient religion could be surprisingly intense and theatrical.
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