Published: 2023-12-31

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Archangel Raphael defeating the demon (Asmodeus) as an Old Testament type of Christ defeating death. An attempt to interpret Nubian paintings and inscriptions

Magdalena Łaptaś
Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings
Section: Rozprawy i Artykuły
https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2023.30.2.2

Abstract

In the Book of Tobit there is a thread about the demon Asmodeus, who possesses the body of Sarah and kills her seven husbands one by one. Archangel Raphael instructs Tobiah on how to cast out the demon who is then chained. The aim of the article is to demonstrate that Sarah’s release from the demon can be treated as overcoming death. The Nubian painting of Tamita showing Raphael trampling a beast from whose mouth an orant emerges, refers to compositions showing the release of Jonah from the mouth of a sea monster. Already in patristic texts Jonah was treated as an Old Testament type of Christ. Raphael's activities for humanity may foreshadow the mission of Christ who defeated death, which is presented as trampling Hades.

Keywords:

Nubia, Archangel Raphael, demons, Asmodeus, Christ, Book of Tobit

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Łaptaś, M. (2023). Archangel Raphael defeating the demon (Asmodeus) as an Old Testament type of Christ defeating death. An attempt to interpret Nubian paintings and inscriptions. Saeculum Christianum. Historical Writings, 30(2), 18–33. https://doi.org/10.21697/sc.2023.30.2.2

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