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Thought to be an important means of communication between divinity and mortals, sacrifice is a central feature of religious practice. In antiquity, although animal sacrifice was predominant, the offering of fruit and vegetables was also considered to be sacrifice. The mythological aition (origin) of the idea of sacrifice is believed to be the story of Prometheus in Hesiod's Theogony (521-616). Prometheus, representing mortals, hosts a dinner at Mekone (Sicyon) and purposely deceives Zeus by assigning for him a good-looking portion that consists of nothing but bones. There are references to sacrifice throughout ancient Greek literature, and with the help of archaeological finds such as vase paintings and votive reliefs we are able to reconstruct approximately what went on. The sacrifice probably consisted of three stages. There was a procession that led the animal to the altar, and a purification ritual in which the animal's head was cleaned with water and sprinkled with barley grain. Then followed the cutting of the throat, and finally the burning of the meat. The gods' portion was bones covered with fat; then the entrails and the meat were given to the participants for consumption. The entrails were observed by the priests because their condition was supposed to provide omens. That is why sacrifices were often made at critical moments in mythology as well as in history, before mounting an expedition or taking an important decision. Most cults and festivals (such as the Dionysia, the Bouphonia, and the Eleusinian mysteries) involved some form of sacrifice. Besides the official celebrations in honour of a god or goddess, where sacrifice plays a central role, sacrifices were made at major events in private life, such as marriage, childbirth, death, and were often accompanied by libations. Sacrifices could be organized at various levels, by a city, a deme, a family, or an individual. Young people of both sexes would offer sacrifices to Artemis before they got married. Pindar tells us about fireless sacrifice (Olympian, 7. 47). Burned sacrifices were believed (Philostratus, Eikones, 2. 2.7) to have first appeared in Athens, where they were conducted gloriously. The altar was the site of the sacrifice. The Classical Greek altar was stone-built and often decorated at the sides. As for human sacrifice, some scholars have argued that it was practised by the Minoan civilization, citing examples from myths such as that of Iphigeneia; but this is a theory that requires more research before it can be accepted.