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The Harrowing of Hell: The Christian Helreith

The passage discusses the Christian concept of "The Harrowing of Hell" and its similarities to the Germanic warrior tradition of the "Helreith." It explains that early Germanic warriors who converted to Christianity saw Jesus' descent into Hell to battle demons as the ultimate version of the Helreith undertaken by great heroes. The Harrowing of Hell is referenced in the Apostles' Creed and Gospel of Matthew. Many scholars view Beowulf's fight with a troll mother as retelling the Harrowing of Hell, noting parallels like both involve a voluntary descent, battling evil forces on their turf, and emerging victorious with salvation for mankind.

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74 views2 pages

The Harrowing of Hell: The Christian Helreith

The passage discusses the Christian concept of "The Harrowing of Hell" and its similarities to the Germanic warrior tradition of the "Helreith." It explains that early Germanic warriors who converted to Christianity saw Jesus' descent into Hell to battle demons as the ultimate version of the Helreith undertaken by great heroes. The Harrowing of Hell is referenced in the Apostles' Creed and Gospel of Matthew. Many scholars view Beowulf's fight with a troll mother as retelling the Harrowing of Hell, noting parallels like both involve a voluntary descent, battling evil forces on their turf, and emerging victorious with salvation for mankind.

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The Harrowing of Hell: the Christian Helreith

In the Germanic Warrior Tradition, many of the greatest heroes undertook the
Helreith, The Hell Ride, where the Hero voluntarily descends to the dark pit
of the Germanic underworld, Hel, and thrashes the ancient enemies of
mankindthe demons and Trolls of Hel. After battling the Forces of Evil and
Darkness on their own turf, the Hero ascends victorious to Middengeard, the
battle itself, the Helreith, securing safety for the denizens of Middle-Earth.
The Germanic Dark Age warriors who were recently converted to Christianity
saw Christs Harrowing of Hell as the supreme version of the Helreith. In
the Harrowing of Hell, Christ the Ultimate Warrior voluntarily descends into
Hell after the Crucifixion, thoroughly thrashes the demons of Hell, and then
frees many of the Old Testament characters who were in Hell at that time.
The Harrowing of Hell is alluded to in The Apostles Creed, and in The
Book of Matthew, but the most complete account is in The Gospel of
Nicodemus, one of the Apocrypha and a well-known text in medieval
Europe.
Many scholars see Beowulfs fight with the Troll Mother as a retelling of The
Harrowing of Hell: the parallels include the following:
--the Heros descent at the ninth hour
--Gods Representative voluntarily enters the Underworld
--His Retainers (Apostles) wait for His return after all others believe He is
dead
--Gods Warrior undertakes a battle with the Forces of Evil on their home
ground
--Serpents, Demons and Evil entities are thrashed and harried by the Warrior
--the Symbol of the Cross is Victorious in Hell
--The Light of Heaven shines for the first time in the darkness of Hell

--Gods Warrior not only harries the demons and Trolls of Hell, this Greatest of
Warriors defeats even Death itself, and He returns to Middle Earth,
Resurrected and Victorious, saving the culture of mankind

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