Gavrik's 40-day memorial feast, Dizi, October 2002

Nodar's brother-in-law drove off a mountainside in his logging truck at night after 3 enforced feasts and far too much to drink; who let him go in that condition?
A bull was sacrificed as part of the 40-day memorial; here its meat and organs are being cooked.

After the Sacrifice, Etseri, May 2001

Another moment in the story of the sacrificial ram. Several of its organs are offered up to God, along with new bread and moonshine.

Sacrifice, Etseri, November 2002

While we're on the subject of death and memorials...

The head of the bull sacrificed at Nodar's father's year memorial. It stayed in this room, along with gifts of food and drink and portraits of both parents, all day long.

Ram sacrifice, Etseri, Svaneti, Georgia, May 2001

Animal sacrifice, as opposed to simple butchery, is still a common practice in the Caucasus, moreso the higher (thus more pagan) one goes. It can be done to "bargain" with God, or in thanksgiving, or in memorial. So this isn't just a pretty picture of a ram; it's a pre-sacrifice portrait. I stayed around from start to finish to make sure I'm a real carnivore, not just a meat-eater who hasn't seen the cost, the process.