Hecatomb

in cla ical and Homeric ages, a sumptuous or magnificent sacrifice — originally consisting of the sacrifice of 100 beasts of the same kind, at 100 altars, by 100 priests or sacrificers. Pythagoras is said to have sacrificed a hecatomb of 100 oxen to the Muses, in joy and gratitude for his having discovered the demonstration of the 47th proposition of the first book of Euclid.