Fall and Redemption of Man

[Woodpecker]

"Fall and Redemption of Man" by Hugo van der Goes. There the demon is depicted as a lizard:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fall_and_Redemption_of_Man_-_Hugo_van_der_Goes.jpg

 

[Joe]

Whether or not man 'fell' from anywhere to somewhere else, what seems to be the case is that human beings are struggling to overcome or move on from or transform their pretty mixed up natures/genetics. It's a titanic struggle with a strong pull from both sides, caught between 'heaven and hell' so to speak. The 'serpent' in this case could be a physical depiction of the more base genetics, the snake or lizard perhaps being seen at some point as the 'lowest' form of animal life because of its characteristics.

 

[Laura]

"Fall and Redemption of Man" by Hugo van der Goes. There the demon is depicted as a lizard:

It's traditional to present the serpent in Eden as a lizard like critter. This was before the "curse" was laid on him that "on your belly you will go", which many artists have interpreted to mean that the serpent formerly had legs. So, nothing unusual at all here.

 

[Woodpecker]

It's traditional to present the serpent in Eden as a lizard like critter. This was before the "curse" was laid on him that "on your belly you will go", which many artists have interpreted to mean that the serpent formerly had legs. So, nothing unusual at all here.

Why was the serpent female?

 

[Laura]

It's traditional to present the serpent in Eden as a lizard like critter. This was before the "curse" was laid on him that "on your belly you will go", which many artists have interpreted to mean that the serpent formerly had legs. So, nothing unusual at all here.

Why was the serpent female?

Isn't always in every depiction. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpents_in_the_Bible
https://hyperallergic.com/134882/when-snakes-could-walk-contemporary-artists-take-on-the-garden-of-eden/

But then, there is the folk legend about Lilith... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith

 

[Woodpecker]

But then, there is the folk legend about Lilith... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith

Thank you for this message dear Laura, because I learned that "lilith" has passed to some words in Turkish and Arabic language ("leyli"[meaning:night], "Leyla"[female name]) come from the same akkadian word. That is a fine surprise for me! :)

"In Hebrew-language texts, the term lilith or lilit (translated as "night creatures", "night monster", "night hag", or "screech owl") first occurs in a list of animals in Isaiah 34:14, either in singular or plural form according to variations in the earliest manuscripts." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith

Also: female evil spirit, in medieval Hebrew folklore the first wife of Adam, from Hebrew Lilith, from Akkadian Lilitu, which is connected by folk etymology with Hebrew laylah "night."
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=lilith

I think "lilith" passed to Arabic language as "leyl" and "Leyla" and later to Turkish.