Formal, ritualized killing of an animal as a sacred act

A man sits near an altar with a statue of a goddess and prepares a boar for sacrifice. Engraving by Battista Franco.

A pagan sacrifice. Etching by A. Fabri after Raphael.

An episode in Juvenal's satire XII: in thanks for the escape of their mutual friend Catullus from a shipwreck, Juvenal shows to Corvinus a votive painting depicting Catullus's survival, while putti prepare to sacrifice animals as thank-offerings to the gods. Etching by W. Hollar after R. Streater.

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

Athenians wearing masks celebrate the vintage by dancing around a statue of Bacchus and sacrificing a goat to him. Engraving by P. Lombard, 1654, after F. Cleyn.

Noah and his family sacrifice a ram to God on leaving the ark. Engraving by G. Carattoni after A. de'Angeli after Michelangelo.

A pagan sacrifice. Engraving after L. Lombard.

Pagan sacrifice. Engraving.

Israel: sacrifice of a red heifer. Coloured etching, 17--.

A procession towards a sacrifice. Lithograph by F. Piloty after Polidoro da Caravaggio.

Pagan sacrifice to a goddess. Engraving.

Three marble vases and a sarcophagus. Etching by G.B. Piranesi, ca. 1770.

1 print : etching and woodcut, printed in colours ; platemark 21.3 x 35.7 cm

The worshippers of Baal beseech their god in vain to ignite their sacrificial altar, but in response to the prayer of Elijah, Yahweh ignites the altar erected to him. Colour etching and woodcut by P.P.A. Robert and N. Le Sueur after Maturino da Firenze.

1 print : etching and engraving ; platemark 35.8 x 52 cm

After healing a lame man, the apostles Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for gods at Lystra; the priest brings them a sacrifice of oxen. Etching by B. Lépicié, 1721, after Raphael.

1 print : mezzotint ; platemark 51.6 x 41.5 cm

A priest conducting a sacrifice inside a temple of Bacchus at Rome. Mezzotint by G.F. Blondel, 176-.

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Animal sacrifice

Images from the collections

Images referencing Animal sacrifice

Works from the collections

The worshippers of Baal beseech their god in vain to ignite their sacrificial altar, but in response to the prayer of Elijah, Yahweh ignites the altar erected to him. Colour etching and woodcut by P.P.A. Robert and N. Le Sueur after Maturino da Firenze.

Pagan sacrifice to a goddess. Engraving.

After healing a lame man, the apostles Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for gods at Lystra; the priest brings them a sacrifice of oxen. Etching by B. Lépicié, 1721, after Raphael.

Pagan sacrifice. Engraving.

A priest conducting a sacrifice inside a temple of Bacchus at Rome. Mezzotint by G.F. Blondel, 176-.