In Greek antiquities, a sacrificial ceremony, forming part of the Dilpolia, a religious festival held on the 14th of the month of Skirophorion (June-July) at Athens, when a laboring ox was sacrificed to Zeus Polieus as protector of the city in accordance with a very ancient custom.

The ox was driven to the altar, on which grain was spread, by members of the family of the Kentriadae, on whom this duty was hereditarily given. When the ox began to eat, one of the family of the Thaulonidae advanced with an axe, killed the ox, then immediately threw the axe away and fled.

The axe, being polluted by murder, was now carried before the court of the Prytaneurn, that tried inanimate objects for homicide, and there the axe was charged with, and convicted, of having caused the death of the ox, after which it was thrown into the sea.

Although the slaughter of a laboring ox was forbidden, it was considered excusable in exceptional circumstances; however, it was regarded as a murder and so its killing instrument was "punished".