Thread by @erik_kaars, I'm fascinated by what Bible stories medieval artists DON'T depict. Like the [...]

Dr. Erik Wade

erik_kaars

I& #39;m fascinated by what Bible stories medieval artists DON& #39;T depict. Like the Philistines crafting golden hemorrhoids to appease God or David bringing Saul 200 Philistine foreskins as Saul asked, in order to marry Saul& #39;s daughter. (Morgan, M.638, f. 29v) #MedievalTwitter 1/7

Even when the David story is depicted, as in this Crusader Bible, they refuse to show the foreskins. David and Saul meet, reach an agreement, David goes to kill a bunch of Philistines, and return with their....heads.

(Morgan Library, MS M.638, f. 30r) 2/7

What& #39;s weird is that the text on the page clearly states Saul asked for 100 foreskins & David brought him 200.

I sort of wonder if some of the visual iconography (David& #39;s gloves, the "heads"), rather than being modesty, is meant to evoke the foreskin theme without depicting it.

ANYWAY, I would love to see any examples of this story or the Philistine hemorrhoid story actually being depicted in medieval art, if you know of them. There& #39;s lots of depictions of the plague of mice but none of the plague of hemorrhoids that I& #39;ve found.

(Morgan, M.638 f. 21v)

I *did* discover some modern variations on these stories, including this incredible meme.

Also two VERY ALARMING images from children& #39;s bibles, which are on the next tweet [TW: ....foreskins and blood, I mean, as you might expect] 5/7

So much to unpack in this image. 6/7

Honestly, Raiders of the Lost Ark would be a lot different with the Ark cursing everyone with hemorrhoids.

Anyway, it& #39;s a Little Weird that children& #39;s bibles are depicting stuff medieval artists usually wouldn& #39;t. 7/7

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