Torturer, Hypocrite, Adversary: Demon’s Guises in Latin Visionary Texts from the 7th to Late 11th Century
https://doi.org/10.31802/BCA.2020.7.3.004
Abstract
The article is focused on the image of demon in visionary literature before the 12th c. In stories about souls temporarily transferred to the other world demon is the executor of torments of sinners. In visions of the afterlife before the 7th century the visionary is placed far away from the scene of execution; the silhouettes of torturers are not written out in detail. Beginning with the 7th c., demons seem to notice the visionary, and he encounters them face to face. Their actual appearances are described. Some details will be included in the later iconography. Demons are endowed with feverish activity, the ability to impersonate different animals, capricious character, the ability to experience emotions from unrestrained exultation to crying and rage, as well as to make appropriate sounds. In visionary tales narrated between the 7th and the 11th c. demonic apparitions and infestations in the earthly world mainly occured in a monastery or hermitage: evil spirits confronted the clergy and saints. Demons wield a hook, darts, bow and arrow, iron rods, red-hot maces, blacksmith’s devices, etc. Altercation with a demon sometimes takes the form of a dispute, where evil spirit’s opponent can be an angel, a saint or a visionary. Texts examined here represent a tradition in which the image of demon in all his guises — from the nameless black torturer to the hypocrite well versed in Scripture, from the ancient adversary of the Christian people to the instrument of God’s justice — has accumulated great potential. This potential was fully realized in visionary texts of the 12th century.
About the Author
A. V. PilgunRussian Federation
Andrei V. Pilgun, PhD in Arts, Independent researcher
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Review
For citations:
Pilgun A.V. Torturer, Hypocrite, Adversary: Demon’s Guises in Latin Visionary Texts from the 7th to Late 11th Century. Bible and Christian Antiquity. 2020;(3):126-162. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31802/BCA.2020.7.3.004
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