Judith Caravaggio Judith Beheading Holofernes 1598 Historical Context

Judith Caravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1598

Historical Context • Stories of the Bible inspired much of the poety and prose that was created in the Middle Ages • The Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham (died ca. 1010) translated some of the stories of the Pentateuch for Anglo-Saxon audience • Aelfric’s translation of Judith is thought to have been composed sometime in the tenth century • This story was translated in order to motivate the Anglo-Saxons to defend their territory against invading Vikings – “set down in our manner in English, as an example to you people that you should defend you land with weapons against the invading army” – Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham (Norton, 101)

Aelfric Abbot of Eynsham • 955 – 1010 • An English abbot and writer o "a man comparable both in the quantity of his writings and in the quality of his mind even with Bede himself. ” - Peter Hunter Blair (wikipedia) • Was educated at Benedictine at Winchester, where he gained a reputation as a scholar • Wrote homilies, works to teach and learn Latin, guides in monastic living, and Old Testament translation o He protested this last project because he feared uneducated audiences would assume the actions of the Old Testament Israelites as acceptable for Christians

Aelfric’s Translation of Judith • Poetic translations of the Bible were based on these stories but not as strictly literal translations of the text – A story could be translated in a more recognizably Germanic cultural setting • Judith takes Holoferne’s battle gear as apposed to his household treasures in the Biblical narrative • Aelfric’s translation of Judith is from the apocryphal books of the Bible – Apocryphal – not regarded as an authentic part of the Old Testament to Protestant Churches

• Recounts the campaign of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar in his punishments of other kingdoms who will not come to his aid in the destruction of Media • Holofernes, Nebuchadnezzar’s general, defeats all armies and towns in his way, and lays siege to the Israelite town of Bethulia • The people of Bethulia are about to surrender to Holofernes, but Judith persuades them not to – Aelfric may have translated this story in particular to encourage Anglo-Saxons to stand up again Viking Invaders

Judith and Holofernes, Lucas Cranach Judith Victorious, Lucas Cranach, 1530

Judith and Holofernes, Michelangelo, 1509