medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
--- Tehmina Goskar <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I am trying to find out more about the iconography associated with St
> Michael the Archangel in the early Middle Ages, before he became
> known as a
> 'militant' saint with usual depictions of scales, spear slaying
> dragon, etc.
Dear Tehmina
My apologies if I have misunderstood your question, which as it stands
puzzles me. From the beginning, indeed from pre-Christian times,
Michael has been described as a 'militant' saint, specialising in
slaying dragons. Thus in the Old Testament Book of Daniel we find:
"The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me" (Daniel 10:13);
cf. also "There is none who contends by my side against these except
Michael, your prince" (Daniel 10:21)
and again "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has
charge of your people."
In the New Testament, in the Book of Revelation, we find him performing
the exploit for which he is most famed, namely the killing of the
dragon:
"Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the
dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated
and there was no longer any place for them in heaven." (Rev. 12:7)
We find him also in the Epistle of Saint Jude:
"But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed
about the body of Moses ..." (Jude 9)
This last alludes to a pre-Christian text called the Assumption of
Moses, about which I am afraid I know nothing but the name. Perhaps Dr
Bob will enlighten us.
All of which goes to show that Michael was a militant dragon-slayer
long before the Middle Ages; this depiction was not a medieval
development.
Bill.
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