Sympathy for the Devil: Representations of Satan Viewed Through the Polysystem Approach

Abstract

In the Holy Bible, the shining one, completely beautiful angel named Lucifer rebelled against God and was cast out of paradise. He became Satan, the serpent or red dragon, as it is depicted in the Christian sacred book. However, the collectively shared imagery of Satan is of a red demon carrying a pitchfork with animal attributions, as with goat horns, wings, hooves a tail, sometimes a half-goat creature. But where does such internalized imagery come from, considering those traits were never mentioned in the Holy Bible? Trying to clarify such issue through a mapping is the main objective of this research, in the light of facts and evidence and in opposition to any kind of fanaticism. Because Satan's imagery is a reaction of its historical context, for the methodology the first relevant visual arts known from the medieval era, literary works and their historical context are analyzed, providing biblical references when necessary. The pattern of relationship between art, historical context, religious beliefs and creeds, philosophy and sociology formulates a system, referring to coherence rather than randomness. Therefore, this research is based on the polysystem theory of investigation by Even-Zohar (2010) and Cattrysse (2014), also for considering Satan as an imagery, not the entity itself. In describing the objects of analysis I bring to light evidence that leads us to believe that Christianity used the images of known ancient pagan gods to finally portray the convenient model for Satan, helping to demonize the gods of the ancient religions with which the Christian religion was practically in competition with, also converting people to their cause.