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 produced by John Nelson.

Child Sacrifice in Ancient Religion

Biblical Time Machine