Pyre Collection

New Forest Snake Catcher
The New Forest snake catcher

Wotan at the Pyre
Wotan bids farewell to his daughter Brunnhilde as she sleeps a magic sleep surrounded by a magic fire which only a true hero can penetrate (Sigfried does it !)

Orestes and Pylades Disputing at the Altar, 1614. Creator: Pieter Lastman
Orestes and Pylades Disputing at the Altar, 1614. Other Title(s): Orestes and Pylades Disputing at the Altar (Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris)

The Martyrdom of Saint Lucy, c.1505-c.1510. Creator: Master of the Figdor Deposition
The Martyrdom of Saint Lucy, c.1505-c.1510

The sacrifice of Iphigenia. Main motif of the fireplace from a hotel in rue des... c1626-1650. Creator: Unknown
The sacrifice of Iphigenia. Main motif of the fireplace from a hotel in rue des Bernardins, 5th arrondissement, between 1626 and 1650

The Labors of Hercules: Hercules on the Pyre, c. 1528. Creator: Gabriel Salmon
The Labors of Hercules: Hercules on the Pyre, c. 1528

Ancient Persian priests performing ritual sacrifices
Ancient Persian priests in white robes performing ritual sacrifices at a pyre. Pireo e Sacerdoti Persi. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Giovanni Antonio Sasso from Giulio Ferrarios Costumes

Into The Flame
Takeshi Mitamura

The proud Earl of Coventry lay dead, from St. George to the Rescue, The Seven Champions of Christendom
IL197485 The proud Earl of Coventry lay dead, from St. George to the Rescue, The Seven Champions of Christendom, by Rose Yeatman Woolf, published by Raphael Tuck, 1920s (colour litho) by Davie

Noahs Sacrifice, 1847-53 (oil on canvas)
LMG109235 Noahs Sacrifice, 1847-53 (oil on canvas) by Maclise, Daniel (Croquis, Alfred) (1806-70); 2.6x254 cm; Leeds Museums and Galleries (Leeds Art Gallery) U.K.; Leeds Museums and Galleries

Dido commits suicide after being abandoned by Aeneas (colour litho)
6000259 Dido commits suicide after being abandoned by Aeneas (colour litho) by Wulff, Max (1871-1947); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dido commits suicide after being abandoned by Aeneas)

Pelias with his daughters or Le Figlie di Pelia Ingannate da Medea, Book VII
STC415879 Pelias with his daughters or Le Figlie di Pelia Ingannate da Medea, Book VII, illustration from Ovids Metamorphoses, Florence, 1832 (hand-coloured engraving) by Ademollo

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia or Ifigenia Sacrificata, Book XII
STC415876 The Sacrifice of Iphigenia or Ifigenia Sacrificata, Book XII, illustration from Ovids Metamorphoses, Florence, 1832 (hand-coloured engraving) by Ademollo

Gods worshipped by the ancient Persians. Saturn 1, Jupiter-Horus with bird head 2, Mars 3, double-headed Sun god 4, Venus 5, Mercury with pig head and fish tail 6 and Moon god on horseback 7

Tiled bench (ceramic tiles)
JFS368146 Tiled bench (ceramic tiles) by Portuguese School; Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira, Lisbon, Portugal; eJohn Ferro Sims; out of copyright

Pontifex Maximus, illustration from L Antique Rome, engraved by Labrousse
STC420668 Pontifex Maximus, illustration from L Antique Rome, engraved by Labrousse, published 1796 (colour litho) by Grasset de Saint-Sauveur

The Trial by Fire and the Death of St. Francis, from Life of St
BAT52664 The Trial by Fire and the Death of St. Francis, from Life of St. Francis Cycle, 1480-85 (fresco) by Ghirlandaio, Domenico (Domenico Bigordi) (1449-94); Santa Trinita, Florence

The Sacrifice of Iphigenia (oil on canvas)
HOL243521 The Sacrifice of Iphigenia (oil on canvas) by Harding, Francis (fl.1730-66); 94x113.7 cm; The Holburne Museum, Bath

Japanese wedding ceremony. A monk presides over the marriage in a shrine to the goddess of virginity while musicians play on gongs and koto harp

The People Burning the Throne at the Place de la Bastille, 1848 (litho) (b / w photo)
CHT163875 The People Burning the Throne at the Place de la Bastille, 1848 (litho) (b/w photo) by French School, (19th century); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris

Hercules on the Pyre or Ercole sulla Pira, Book IX, illustration from Ovid
STC415890 Hercules on the Pyre or Ercole sulla Pira, Book IX, illustration from Ovids Metamorphoses, Florence, 1832 (hand-coloured engraving) by Ademollo

The Sacrifice of Isaac, 1765 (oil on canvas)
SRM91262 The Sacrifice of Isaac, 1765 (oil on canvas) by Losenko, Anton Pavlovich (1731-73); 202x157 cm; State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia; eState Russian Museum; Russian, out of copyright

Temple copied from a design on a medal found beside an Egyptian mummy
STC132731 Temple copied from a design on a medal found beside an Egyptian mummy, from Entwurf einer historischen Architektur, 1721 (engraving) by Fischer von Erlach

Creoesus on his Pyre (engraving)
3635306 Creoesus on his Pyre (engraving) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Creoesus on his Pyre)

Four scenes from the life of Martin Luther (engraving)
3647714 Four scenes from the life of Martin Luther (engraving) by Konig, Gustav Ferdinand Leopold (1808-69); Private Collection; (add.info.: Four scenes from the life of Martin Luther)

The burned remains of an enemy Pioneer camp (b / w photo)
STC406180 The burned remains of an enemy Pioneer camp (b/w photo) by German Photographer (20th Century); Private Collection; (add.info.: the devastating)

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"Pyre: A Journey Through Time and Culture" Step into the world of pyres, where ancient rituals and modern customs intertwine. From the New Forest Snake Catcher to Dido on the Funeral Pyre in Virgil's tales, these stories have captivated generations. Witness Wotan at the Pyre, a mythical figure engulfed by flames as he bids farewell to his beloved. Feel the heat radiating from Into The Flame, an exploration of life's final moments transformed into ash. Travel to Benares, where Cremation on the banks of the Ganges is a sacred practice that honors tradition and spirituality. Marvel at Romany Funeral Pyres, where vibrant celebrations honor those who have passed with music and dance. Caesar's Pyre immortalized by Houbraeken captures a momentous event in history - a leader laid to rest amidst flickering flames. Delve into Customs/Suttee as we unravel cultural practices surrounding self-immolation in certain societies. Discover Brunnhilde's Deathbed, a poignant scene from Wagner's opera that portrays sacrifice for love through fiery redemption. Unearth Etruscans Burn Dead BC - an ancient civilization honoring their departed with fire long before our time. Experience Iron Age Funeral Scene Social Scenes Pre-History; witness communities coming together to bid farewell to their loved ones in solemn unity. Finally, immerse yourself in Roman Funerals - grand spectacles filled with mourning and remembrance. Through these glimpses into various cultures' perspectives on death and rebirth lies an understanding of humanity's eternal fascination with pyres – symbols of transformation and passage beyond this mortal realm.