A Sop to Cerberus

The three-headed hound guarding Hades from those who might try to escape (and sometimes taking a snap at those arriving) was to be tossed a honey-cake by arrivals in the hope of distracting it from its vigilance. So, a sop to Cerberus is anything that might pacify or distract from vigilance. If someone places a honey-cake in your hands as you lay in your casket, you will know where they are thinking you are headed.

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