I have had in my possession for the past 40 years - almost - a photograph of
a bas relief carving from Bristol Cathedral which was a house of Augustinian
Canons, pre-reformation. It is known as the Saxon Stone and is dated to
1000. It shows Christ (with a very Saxon moustache) standing on the devil
and using the shaft of his cross to haul Eve - clearly female and clearly
unclothed - out of the Pit of Hell. The shadowy outline of Adam is just
visible on the far side of her.
The traditional version of the H of H in Orthodox iconography is quite
different in composition. Here Christ, holding the triumphal cross on a long
shaft stands on the shattered doors of Hell which have fallen to form a
cross, and is pulling out Adam (fully clothed) who stands on one side of the
Pit while Eve (also fully clothed)waits her turn on the other. Indeed the
contrast between Christ's firm grip and Adam's limp hand is usually very
striking.
A version where Hell Mouth is gaping jaws with teeth and where the devils in
chains are writhing under Christ's feet (also standing on the broken gates
now forming a X) is to be found in the Albani Psalter in Hildesheim which
was created in the 12th C at St Albans Abbey for our local saint, Christina
of Markyate. (The Psalter went to Germany at the Reformation probably in the
luggage of a Benedictine monk en route for the English refugee monastic
community at Lambspring)
There is another nice example that I know of on the west wall of the Church
of Santa Maria Assunta on the island of Torcello in the Venetian lagoon.
This church predates St Mark's as the cathedral...
In all these examples, well spread over time and culture, it is quite clear
that the two symbolic characters being rescued in the Harrowing of Hell are
Adam & Eve, symbolising the whole human race, and not just Jews and / or
Christians.
As I understand it, the virtuous are rejoice to be rescued. The impenitent
prefer to stay in Hell and sulk.
Someone once told me that the myth of the Harrowing of Hell grew up to
explain what Christ was doing on the Saturday between being crucified on the
Friday and Rising on the Sunday. I have always felt that as the Sabbath was
the day of rest (God rested on the seventh day of creation) no explanation
was necessary ....
But I still find the Harrowing a most consoling myth ....
BMC
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