In Greece, people’s shadows are unknowingly sacrificed for the foundation of a building. Shadows are meant to bring stability and strength to a building. If your shadow is used it is thought you will die within a year.

To sacrifice a shadow, the builders would convince a person to stand in a spot, while someone else laid down the cornerstone piece on top of the shadow.

There were also shadow traders that would measure a person’s shadow with a string. Then sell the string to the builder, who would bury it under the foundation.