In , blood was—and in some cases still is—seen as a sacred element. Practices like blood brotherhoods or rituals to "atone" for crimes (e.g., offering livestock or blood sacrifices) demonstrate how blood symbolizes both life and the need for communal harmony when violated. Literature and Philosophy: "Sang pour Sang" in Creative Expression The phrase has inspired countless literary works and philosophical debates. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , the feud between the Montagues and Capulets exemplifies how unchecked retaliation ("sang pour sang") escalates into tragedy. Similarly, Homer’s The Iliad portrays the rage of Achilles, whose pursuit of vengeance for Patroclus’s death consumes the narrative, underscoring the destructive potential of retribution.