There is no doubt that a person's gender could make a difference to their role in Greek sacrifices. But did it normally make a difference in Greece? And why did it make a difference? Two inscriptions from the island of Thasos neatly illustrate the problem. First, one dated to around 440 and found in the sanctuary of Herakles:[Ἡρα]κλεῖ Θασῖωι[αἶγ]α οὐ θμισ, οὐ–[δ] χοῖρον οὐδ γ–[υ]ναικ; θμισ οὐ–[δ]' νατεεται οὐ–δ γρα τμνετα–ι οὐσ' θλται1.