As already mentioned, most depictions of the Last Judgement/Doom
(especially in the later medieval period) depicted the mouth of hell in
some form or another. It was/is usually located at the bottom
right-hand side of the picture (when facing), below the dreadful and
terrible images of damned souls and torturing devils. Medieval
wall paintings of the theme are to be found in numerous parish churches
(and other secular/ecclesiastical buildings) up and down the country,
usually located on the north wall over the chancel arch. Depictions vary considerably, but it is interesting that some (at
least), appear to be in the form of grotesque animal or even humans. At
Corby Glen in Lincolnshire (fifteenth century) for example, the jaws are
depicted as a kind of boar's head, mouth open and bright red in colour.
At Oddingtom in Gloucestershire (fourteenth century), it is shaped
rather like a grotesque comical figure or jester, the mouth once again
open, this time about to close its jaws on some unfortunate souls who
have tumbled into the regions of hell.
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