Idolatres

17th century depiction of the Hindu practice of sati.

Sati is an ancient Hindu custom in which the widow of a deceased man would throw herself on his funeral pyre as the final sign of ultimate devotion. First appearing in written records around 300 CE, the practice evolved so that it became an obligation, rather than a gesture of courage and sacrifice. The British Raj banned sati in the 1800s, but isolated incidents can be found throughout the 20th and even 21st centuries.

This print shows a likely stylized representation of the practice, with the widow stepping off a short cliff directly into the blaze. Musicians and attendants are also shown.

Published in Paris in 1683 for inclusion in Alain Manesson Mallet’s Description de L’Universe.

Source.