Human Sacrifice in Folklore and Mythology
33 entries in the Human Sacrifice in Folklore and Mythology compendium.
Alcyoneus (son of Diomos)Youth saved from sacrifice by a lover who slays the monster.Androcleia and AlcisSisters who sacrificed themselves to save Thebes from Orchomenus.Andromeda (mythology)Princess of Aethiopia rescued from a sea monster by Perseus.Binding of IsaacA biblical account of a commanded sacrifice that is halted.Binding of IshmaelIslamic narrative of Abraham's command to sacrifice his son.Blood libelAntisemitic trope falsely accusing Jews of ritual murder.Book of AbrahamLatter Day Saint scripture translated from Egyptian papyri.Bridge of ArtaA stone bridge whose building legend involves human sacrifice.Callirhoë (Calydonian woman)A Calydonian maiden whose sacrifice ended a Dionysian plague.Cleostratus (mythology)Thespian youth saved from dragon by his lover Menestratus.Comaetho (priestess)Priestess whose love brought plague and sacrifice to Patrae.CoresusPriest of Dionysus who died by his own hand.Crom CruachPre-Christian Irish god propitiated with human sacrifice.Demophon of ElaeusA Thracian king whose sacrifices led to revenge and a constellation.DomaldeSwedish king sacrificed to end famine and restore harvests.Idomeneus (son of Deucalion)Cretan king who fought at Troy and faced exile.IphigeniaDaughter of Agamemnon, sacrificed to appease Artemis.Macaria (daughter of Heracles)Daughter of Heracles who sacrificed herself for Athens.MelanippusMultiple Greek mythological figures, including a Theban defender and a son of Theseus.Menestratus (Thespiae)Thespian who died slaying a dragon to save his lover.Menippe and MetiocheDaughters of Orion who sacrificed themselves to end a plague.MenoeceusTwo Theban figures; the younger sacrificed himself to save Thebes.MolochBiblical term linked to child sacrifice, later a cultural symbol.NyctimusArcadian prince and youngest son of King Lycaon.PalinurusCoxswain sacrificed so Trojans could reach Italy.PelopsKing of Pisa, resurrected after being served to the gods.PhrixusSon of Athamas, rescued by a golden-fleeced ram.PolyxenaTrojan princess sacrificed on Achilles' tomb after the war.PraxitheaMultiple figures in Greek myth share the name Praxithea.Theodore the Varangian and his son JohnVarangian Christian father and son killed in Kievan Rus' pagan sacrifice.Threefold deathA reconstructed Indo-European motif of death by three means.TōxcatlAztec month and festival honoring Tezcatlipoca with human sacrifice.Wicker manA wicker figure used for human sacrifice in Gaulish tradition.
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