Every conceivable abomination was practiced in decadent Rome before it’s collapse, including killing of babies. When I get time, I will post some proof.
I fear savagesusie may be correct somewhat.
It’s true that the Romans did NOT engage in child sacrifice prior to the Punic Wars. But the late republic and early empire population reduction was due in part to abortions, a kind of child sacrifice. Augustus made the reversal of that trend one of his earliest projects.
Do you recall what practice Augustus was fighting with tax advantages in order to raise the Roman birth rate? The name of the practice is escaping me. The wealthy avoided having any children of their own so that suitors to their lands would shower them with gifts seeking to be named in the landowner’s will. Legacy seeking is the only word that comes to mind.
They sacrificed having their own children (figuratively, and literally in the case of abortion). Why gamble on ones own children who could possibly be failures? Instead they looked to adopt those who were proven winners as demonstrated by how many gifts they could provide.