Skip to main content
Wellcome Collection homepage
  • Visit us
  • What’s on
  • Stories
  • Collections
  • Get involved
  • About us
Sign in to your library account
Search for anything
Library account

Self-torture

Part of
Torture
Self-mutilation
Self-destructive behavior

On this page

  • Images from the collections
  • Works from the collections
  • Related topics

Images from the collections

Images about Self-torture

4 images from works
  • Hooks, ropes and a lancet used by Hindu ascetics for self-torture. Engraving, 1798.
  • A Hindu ascetic or holy man: suspended by a hook and two spikes inserted through the muscles of his back. Gouache painting by an Indian artist.
  • A Muslim man accompanied by a boy: both with rods and chains piercing their bodies at the festival of Muharram in Shusha, Azerbaijan (?). Etching by R.R. after H. Koch, ca. 1878.
  • A Hindu ascetic or holy man: suspended upside down over a small fire by cords tied around his ankles. Watercolour, ca. 1880 (?).

Works from the collections

4 works

    • Pictures
    • Online

    Hooks, ropes and a lancet used by Hindu ascetics for self-torture. Engraving, 1798.

    | Date: May 1798 | Reference: 567798i
    • Pictures
    • Online

    A Muslim man accompanied by a boy: both with rods and chains piercing their bodies at the festival of Muharram in Shusha, Azerbaijan (?). Etching by R.R. after H. Koch, ca. 1878.

    Koch, H., active approximately 1878. | Date: 1878 | Reference: 567717i
    • Pictures
    • Online

    A Hindu ascetic or holy man: suspended by a hook and two spikes inserted through the muscles of his back. Gouache painting by an Indian artist.

    | Reference: 566952i
    • Pictures
    • Online

    A Hindu ascetic or holy man: suspended upside down over a small fire by cords tied around his ankles. Watercolour, ca. 1880 (?).

    | Date: [1880? (?)] | Reference: 566997i

Related topics

Sadhus

Wellcome Collection

183 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE

+44 (0)20 7611 2222
info@wellcomecollection.org

  • Getting here

Today’s opening times

  • Galleries
    10:00 – 18:00
  • Library
    10:00 – 18:00
  • Café
    10:00 – 18:00
  • Shop
    10:00 – 18:00

Opening times

Our building has:

  • Step free access
  • Hearing loops

Access information

  • Visit us
  • What’s on
  • Stories
  • Collections
  • Get involved
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Jobs
  • Media office
  • Developers
  • Privacy and terms
  • Cookie policy
  • Manage cookies
  • Modern slavery statement
TikTok
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence