BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

Living with the Gods

Religion & Ethics

How shared beliefs have shaped societies from the earliest days of humanity

How shared beliefs have shaped societies around the world, from the very earliest days of humanity with Neil MacGregor, former Director of the British Museum.

How shared beliefs have shaped societies around the world, from the very earliest days of humanity with Neil MacGregor, former Director of the British Museum. 

Image: Gold coin, Credit: The Trustees of the British Museum

Living with the Gods: Holy Killing

Magazines & Reviews

Factual

Holy Killing

27/01/2018 GMT

BBC World Service - Living with the Gods, Holy Killing

This Aztec knife, dating from around 1500, had a brutal purpose - human sacrifice

This Aztec knife, dating from around 1500, had a brutal purpose - human sacrifice.

Neil MacGregor continues his series on the expression of shared beliefs in communities around the world and across time, and focuses on sacrifice.. 

Displayed in the British Museum is a finely-crafted Aztec knife, dating from around 1500, with a richly-decorated handle. It had a brutal purpose - human sacrifice. 

In ancient Greece, animal sacrifice was a vital ritual for connection with the deities: the grounds of a Greek temple were in part a sacred public slaughter-house. 

Producer Paul Kobrak

Produced in partnership with the British Museum
Photograph (c) The Trustees of the British Museum.

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Living with the Gods

Holy Killing

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service