Monstrorum Historia was a book written by Ulisse Aldrovandi. Aldrovandi collected drawing of humans, animals, and plants that were hard to find. Most of the human drawings were of people with deformities. This specific image is of a man with an extra arm and rabbit-like years with goat-like feet. The image seems to match the descriptions of satyrs/fauns described by Greeks and Romans.[1]
Ambrose Pare wrote a book called On Monsters and Marvels. This book meant to explain birth Defects. The image above is of twin woman who was born with their waist connected. Since the family of the twins was poor, they traveled across Italy, so people could marvel at the persons. It was believed by many during that time, that women who have been unfaithful or who had sinned produced such "monstrosities". By Depicting the people with deformities naked, is another way to showcase that the peoples look this way because they sinned and hence have been punished by God.[4]
The Codex Gigas(AKA Devil's Bible) was created by Herman the Recluse. The book contains the complete Vulgate Bible and other popular medieval works. Herman wrote this book when he broke his monastic vows and was sentenced to be walled up alive. Instead of receiving this punishment he said that in one night he would create a book to glorify the monastery forever. By midnight, he realized he couldn't do it. He prayed to Lucifer in exchange for his soul and it is believed that the devil himself finished the book and in gratitude Herman added a picture of him. It is estimated by experts that just reproducing the calligraphy without illustrations would take 5 years of non-stop writing. The picture of the devil follows the same format seen before. The devil is a disfigured being with giant horns and nails. The devil is also naked to showcase his banishment from heaven. The devil also seems to be missing his wings. [5]
The White Demon (div-i-safid) and how it is killed by Rustam. The stories about the white div are very important because it is about a fictitious enemy that is meant to showcase the worst qualities of a human being. While the image is meant to showcase the deformities of an “evil” being, where The White Demon is much larger than Rustam (and is a pure white naked being), it is also meant to showcase the redemption of a human being. While the Demon evolves and changes roles, while Iblis stays the same. This is the first time we see that the monster is shown with a whiter skin since Iblis is always depicted to have darker skin. [3]
Qisas Al-Anbiya are stories adapted from Quran and other Islamic literature. It begins with the creation of the world and its creatures. It also follows the stories of all the Prophets and their family. This specific image depicts Adam being worshipped by Angels in heaven. The Angels are shown bowing down as well. Both Adam and the angels seemed to have similar facial features and dressed in a similar manner. The only difference is that the Angels have colored wings and Adam doesn't. [3]
Tarikh Al-rusul wa'l-muluk aka The History of the Prophets and Kings was written by Muhammad IbnJarrir al_Tabri. It tells the story of creation and detail about Muslim's and the Middle Eastern history. This specific image depicts Adam and the Angels bowing down to Adam, while Iblis(the devil) refusing to bow. Adam and the Angels are depicted with similar features and dressing, with the only difference being the wings. Iblis has much darker skin with little to no clothing and is shown with a beard and animal-like feet, with wings that looked like they have been burned. [3]
The Fall of the Rebel Angels by Sebastiano Ricci. It depicts St. Michael driving out the rebel Angels out of heaven. As the rebels fall, their feature turns demonic. The rebels skin turns darker, their wings become bat-like and horns sprout from their head. The Angel Michael is depicted fully clothed while the rebel Angels are shown naked. [2]
Christ Consoled by the Angels was painted by Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz. The painting depicts the moments following the flagellation of Jesus. Jesus is shown with a bloody back with an agonized look on his face. An Angel is shown holding while an Angels mop the blood off the floor and another seems to be approaching to apply an ointment on his back. [2]
The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most famous pieces of art in the world. It depicts Jesus Christ as he tells his followers that he will be betrayed by someone in that room. The painting depicts Jesus as calm and stable in contrast to the shocked expressions by the apostles. Jesus is the focal point of the painting with his body in a triangular form symbolic of the Holy Trinity. [2]
Aldrovandi, Ulisse, et al. Monstrorum Historia. Les Belles Lettres, 2002.
Arjana, Sophia Rose. Muslims in the Western Imagination. Oxford University Press, 2015.
Francesca Leoni, “On the Monstrous in the Islamic Visual Tradition.” in The Ashgate Research Companion to Monsters and the Monstrous.
Pare, Ambroise, and Janis L. Pallister. On Monsters and Marvels. University of Chicago Press, 1983.
“The History of Codex Gigas - Kungliga Biblioteket.” Startsida, www.kb.se/codex-gigas/eng/Long/handskriftens/.
