Sollevation
The traditional treatment of the corpse in the High Arathracian Religion is sollevation, the elevation of the dead body on a platform high above the earth and intentionally exposing it to the heavens so that the flesh could be consumed by the birds of heaven, particularly the golden eagle which is held to be especially sacred. In ancient times, sollevation was practiced for deceased Arathraciots and for non-Arathracites whom the Yophenthean Empire chose so to honor. In the present day, the practice is reserved for high clergy of the Arathracian Church.
The devouring of the flesh by birds of the air, particularly the golden eagle, the totemic creature of the cult of Arathrax was propitious and a sure sign that the deceased soul would be taken to dwell with the god in heaven. The bones are left to bleach in the sacred rays of the sun and then gathered after eight times eight days, that is sixty four, and then placed into an ossuary through a process of rites and prayers. The ossuary is then held in an honorary location in an Arathracian Temple.
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