Shrine of the Virgin Mary at Zell in Styria

Shrine of the Virgin Mary at Zell in Styria

Demonic Possession

This sixteenth-century panel painting shows the exorcism of a young German female demoniac in 1370 at the shrine of the Virgin Mary at Zell in Styria. A priest or monk is shown as the exorcist. He has wrapped his stole around the womanÍs neck. The scene behind the woman, on the left side of the painting represents the murder of the womanÍs parents and infant child as the consequence of demonic possession. This is one of the few images that represent the horrific events before the exorcism. Many, small winged, exorcised demons are escaping through the open window. Two other holy figures are witnesses to the exorcism. This image comes from The Devil Within: Possession and Exorcism in the Christian West by Brian P. Levack.

unknown

The Devil Within: Possession and Exorcism in the Christian West

Yale University Press

16th century

Brian P. Levack

[no text]

[no text]

Panel Painting

[no text]

Still Image

[no text]

[no text]

[no text]

[no text]