Offering of a human being to a god or goddess in tribute, as an act of repentance, to ask forgiveness, or in exchange for a favor

Spanish conquistadors discovering victims of human sacrifices among the Incas (?). Etching by A.C.F. Villerey after N. Vallain.

An ancient priest killing a lamb as a sacrifice amidst a crowd of people. Etching by J. van den Aveele, 1681.

The sacrifice of Iphigenia or Polyxena: the victim is about to have her throat cut and her blood caught in a bowl when a god with a drawn sword appears. Etching by G. de Lairesse.

Human sacrifice among the Khonds in India: a victim (meriah) about to be dismembered. Wood engraving by C. Krull after J. Fuchs, 186-.

A wicker man inside which people are sacrificed, surrounded by the principal deities of the Saxons. Etching by Smith after R. Verstegen and A. Sammes.

A human sacrifice witnessed by Captain Cook on the island of Tahiti. Engraving by W. Woollett, 1784, after J. Webber.

1 print : engraving ; platemark 28.6 x 49 cm

1 photograph glass plate negative; 8 x 11 cm

M0003727: Drawing of an individual sacrificing another human at an alter

1 print : etching ; platemark 44.8 x 68.7 cm

The sacrifice of Iphigenia. Etching by G.B. Piranesi, ca. 1770.

1 print : engraving ; image 17.2 x 13.5 cm

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

It's not possible to book tickets for events at present due to a problem with the ticketing system. We're working to fix it. You can still search and check information about events but please try again later if you want to book a ticket.

We're running paid user research studies to improve Wellcome Collection online

Take part in research

Archive collection level pages, plus the archive collection treatment on the work page and in search results.

The catalogue API's shortDescription is shown on the archive collection hero and in search results.

Archive collection

Clicking an image opens its details in a sidebar instead of a modal, with the selected image highlighted in the grid.

Updated image results grid and a re-sizable viewing pane.

Larger thumbnail, plus key information and onward journey in the sidebar.

Image sidebar preview

The three thematic browsing category pages (subjects, people & organisations, types & techniques) become accessible.

Subject sub-category pages become accessible, and the subjects category page gains a sub-category menu.

Human sacrifice

Images from the collections

Images referencing Human sacrifice

Works from the collections

A human sacrifice witnessed by Captain Cook on the island of Tahiti. Engraving by W. Woollett, 1784, after J. Webber.

M0003727: Drawing of an individual sacrificing another human at an alter

The sacrifice of Iphigenia. Etching by G.B. Piranesi, ca. 1770.

Human sacrifice among the Khonds in India: a victim (meriah) about to be dismembered. Wood engraving by C. Krull after J. Fuchs, 186-.

An ancient priest killing a lamb as a sacrifice amidst a crowd of people. Etching by J. van den Aveele, 1681.