The Sacrifice of Polyxena 1776

Giovanni David created this print, “The Sacrifice of Polyxena,” in the late 18th century. David, living in a time of shifting social structures, was particularly focused on religious and mythological themes. This piece depicts the tragic scene of Polyxena's sacrifice, a story rooted in ancient Greek mythology, exploring themes of power, gender, and sacrifice. Polyxena, daughter of King Priam of Troy, is offered as a blood sacrifice to appease the ghost of Achilles. We see Polyxena being forced to kneel, and a man holding her head to expose her neck. This work captures a pivotal moment rife with patriarchal control and the subjugation of women. It presents a narrative where a woman’s life is disposable, subservient to the desires and demands of men and gods. What does it mean to take a human life in the name of appeasement? What other stories of this kind do we tell ourselves, even today?