Prisoners of Hell in Russian Iconography: Figures and Gestures

Abstract

The paper focuses on the figures of sinners in the Inferno in Russian iconography and the semantics of their gestures. In icons, murals and book illuminations prisoners of the underworld demonstrate a number of poses and mimic gestures: a hand pressed against cheek or forehead (the sign of grief and forlornness), a teeth-baring grin (the 'gnashing of teeth', mentioned in the Gospels), twisted arms (underlining their status as hell's captives) and closely linked variations of the dead man gesture such as hands crossed on the chest, hands drawn palms to elbows or fist touching fist at stomach level. All of these signify eternal torments as 'everlasting death' - a widespread Christian metaphor, and the antithesis to 'everlasting life' of the righteous in Heaven. The use of these gestures and their role in the iconography of Hell is analyzed in a broad visual context.