World Model · podcast knowledge graph

Child Sacrifice in Ancient Religion

2026-03-09 · 42 min · 8 entities

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Asserted relationships

  • → hosted by Helen Bond & Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones person
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Helen Bond & Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
  • → discusses History website
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History
  • → discusses Religion & Spirituality concept
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Religion & Spirituality
  • → discusses Christianity concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Christianity

Entities found in this episode

concepts 4

  • mentioned Religion & Spirituality concept
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    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Religion & Spirituality
  • mentioned Christianity concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Christianity
  • discusses Religion & Spirituality concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Religion & Spirituality
  • discusses Christianity concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Christianity

persons 2

websites 2

  • mentioned History website
    0.50
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History
  • discusses History website
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: History
Episode description as stored
We have all heard rumours that ancient religions used children in ritual sacrifice. But did it really happen? To discuss the evidence, Helen and Lloyd are joined in the Time Machine by Dr Eve MacDonald, lecturer at Cardiff University and author of the acclaimed, Carthage: A New History of an Ancient Empire (Penguin, 2025).  Dr MacDonald answers questions like:  Did human sacrifice really occur in the ancient world, and what does the archaeological evidence actually show? What happened in the Great Death Pit at Ur, and what does it reveal about ancient burial rituals? Why do ancient myths and biblical stories so often centre on the sacrifice of young girls? Did the Carthaginians really practise child sacrifice, and what does the evidence from the Tophet suggest? How did Greeks and Romans use accusations of shocking religious practices to demonise their enemies—and even early Christians? SUPPORT BIBLICAL TIME MACHINE If you enjoy the podcast, please (pretty please!) consider supporting the show through the Time Travellers Club , our Patreon. We are an independent, listener-supported show (no ads!), so please help us continue to showcase high-quality biblical scholarship with a monthly subscription . Support the show Theme music written and performed by Dave Roos, creator of Biblical Time Machine. Season 4 + 5 produced by John Nelson.