Idol Collection (page 14)

AZTEC DEITY. Vitzliputzli. Wood engraving, 19th century

LAPLAND: IDOLATRY. Laplanders offering sacrifices to idols. Wood engraving, 19th century

KING OLAF II (995-1030). King of Norway, 1015-1028. King Olaf destroying the Norse gods in order to enforce the acceptance of Christianity. Wood engraving, 19th century

LAPLAND: IDOLATRY. Idol of the Laplanders. Wood engraving, 19th century

GOLDEN CALF. Steel engraving after Nicolas Poussin

JUGGERNAUT IDOL, 1832. Used in the worship of the Hindu deity Krishna. Line engraving, American, 1832

BURNING OF IDOLS, 1815. The burning of idols by the natives of Otaheite (modern Tahiti), 1815. Line engraving, American, 1832

BABYLON: SUN WORSHIP. The cult of sun worship in ancient Babylon. Line engraving, 1733

MISSIONARY IN INDIA, 1832. The Rev. J. Thomas Putting to Shame the Bramins & Exciting the Ridicule of the People at Idol Worship. Line engraving, American, 1832

GOLDEN CALF AT BETHEL. Wood engraving, 19th century

PRIEST IN MEXICO. A Spanish priest overseeing the destruction by conquistadors of a statue of an Aztec god: line engraving after an illustration by Felix O.C. Darley, 19th century

DANIEL. Daniel confounding the priests of Bel (Bel and Dragon 7). Wood engraving after Gustave Dor

MEXICO: SPANISH CONQUEST. A Spanish priest overseeing the destruction by Conquistadors of an Aztec idol. Line engraving after an illustration by Felix O.C. Darley, 19th century

SOLOMON WORSHIPPING IDOLS. (I Kings 11: 4-8). Wood engraving, 19th century
SOLOMON WORSHIPPING IDOLS. (I Kings 11:4-8). Wood engraving, 19th century

DRUIDESSES DANCING around a megalithic idol. Wood engraving, 19th century

HEBREW IDOLATRY. Israelites making a sacrifice before an idol representing the Egyptian bull-god Apis

HINDU SACRIFICE, 1837. Devotees in India sacrifice themselves to the Idol Juggernaut. Line engraving, 1837

Trying to drag him from his altar and his idol. Illustration shows an old man labeled Progressive Republican trying to pull an aged and battered elephant labeled GOP

The idol of the south, Mabel Paige supported by Marshalls Musical Comedy Company. Date c1899

De Wolf Hopper in A matinee idol. Date c1909

Grandmere De Chimquiere
La Grandmere de Chimquiere, a stone fertility figure which stands beside St. Martins Church, Guernsey. A fine example of a prehistoric statue of the Earth Mother

TEN COMMANDMENTS, 1923. Silent film still

Bangkok, Thailand. Bangkoks Grand Palace

Lincing Deity
Deity named LIN-SING (?) by the Dutch ambassadors (note the enormous size of the idol)

Aztec Sculptures Ruined
The Spanish destroy huge Aztec idol sculptures

Honduras Copan
Sculptured idol in the ruins of Copan

Female Type / Blue Idol
L Idole Bleue: A young woman dressed in exotic eastern costume, sitting cross-legged on an elephant

Figures of gods found at Tiryns, Greece
Figures of gods made from terracotta, found at Tiryns, Mycenae, Greece

Morish Idol. Indian Ocean - France
WAT-12402 Morish Idol Indian Ocean Zanclus cornutus M. Watson Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway

Coachman Fish / Long FIn Bannerfish / Poor Man's Moorish Idol / Pennant Coralfish / Wimplefish
LB-4840 Coachman Fish / Long Fin Bannerfish / Poor Man's Moorish Idol / Pennant Coralfish / Wimplefish Heniochus acuminatus Ian Beames Please note that prints are for personal display purposes

Coral garden - with single Moorish idol and school of Fairyy basslets swimming over a reef adorned with hard coral
AUS-1820 Coral garden - with single Moorish idol and school of Fairy basslets swimming over a reef adorned with hard coral, colourful soft corals, crinoids, compound ascidians

Hand of Buddha, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist statue, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Sea of clouds surrounds the Jinding temple on the top of Golden Summit on Mount Emei Shan, Mount Emei Scenic Area, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sichuan Province, China, Asia

Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti), statue at night, the symbol of Kiev, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Archangel Michael sculpture in Independence Square, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Statue in Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti), the symbol of Kiev, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

St. Nicholas, Doctor of the Church, Prague, Czech Republic, Europe

Moorish Idol Tropical Indo-Pacific
KEL-889 Moorish Idol Tropical Indo-Pacific Zanclus cornutus Ken Lucas Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

Three young monks praying at a rock-cut image of the Buddha in the Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa (Polonnaruva), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Rock carved granite image of the 7m tall standing Buddha, Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa (Polonnaruva), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Detail of the rock carved granite image of the 7m tall standing Buddha, Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa (Polonnaruva), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Rock carved granite image of the seated Buddha, Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa (Polonnaruva), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Giant gold seated Buddha statue at entrance to the Cave Temples, Golden Temple, Cave Temples, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Asia

Giant statue dating from the 5th century, of the standing Buddha giving a blessing with his right hand, and lifting the robe to signify reincarnation with his left hand, Aukana, Sri Lanka, Asia

Penitents lifting the Jesus Christ carriage during Semana Santa (Holy Week) procession, Salamanca, Castilla y Leon (Old Castile), Spain, Europe

Chiang Mai, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Two women stop at a Buddhist shrine on the Lingkhor Lam, a traditional pilgrimage circuit around the city of Lhasa, Tibet, China, Asia

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From Hollywood heartthrobs to ancient deities, idols have captivated us throughout history. On the Tatler cover, Ronald Colman and his Sealyham Terrier exude an idol-like aura of charm and elegance. Meanwhile, the Big Buddha statue on Lantau Island stands tall as a symbol of devotion in Hong Kong's Po Lin Monastery. In the world of entertainment, Rudolph Valentino was hailed as a silent film idol whose smoldering looks melted hearts worldwide. And even centuries ago, a man with a glass in hand captured in Cycladic Art became an enigmatic idol frozen in time. Traveling to India's Kumortuli reveals small bells that adorn idols crafted by skilled artisans in Kolkata, showcasing their dedication to religious traditions. In Mexico's Aztec civilization, human sacrifices were offered to appease the sun-god—an unsettling reminder of how far people would go for their beliefs. Literature too has its share of idols; Bardelys The Magnificent tells tales of charismatic heroes who become legends. Yet not all they are fictional; missionaries like those shown in 1837 sought to challenge China's worship practices and redefine what it meant to be an idolater. Throughout history, figures like Charlemagne and Baal held immense power over civilizations as gods or rulers—idols worshipped or feared by many. Even closer to home at Sandringham estate lies an Indian Idol amidst the grounds—a testament to cultural exchange and appreciation. Lastly, we encounter Vitzliputzli (Huitzilopochtli), a Mexican deity whose name echoes through time—an idol revered by ancient civilizations for protection and strength. Whether they inspire adoration or controversy, these diverse idols remind us of humanity's eternal quest for something greater than ourselves.