Visual Anti-Jewish Propaganda on Thirteenth-Century German Episcopal Church Buildings

The majority of episcopal churches in Germany who underwent substantial reconstruction during the 13^th century show on prominent positions (one of the main portals, in the vestibule or on the jube) costly sculptural programs of high artistically value, one of whose main purposes seems to be a dispute over Judaism.

Although the main subjects of these illustrations show a wide range of popular topics like Ecclesia versus Synagoga, The Final Judgment, The Wise versus The Foolish Maidens amongst others – all these images have one theme in common: the ascription of Jews to the devils sphere.

The main ideas of these sculptural programs are not essentially new – but their outstanding lavishness, the prominence of their position, their integration in a more universal symbolic agenda and not least the tight interval of their appearance are.

There is evidence to suggest that these campaigns mirror the anti-Jewish resolutions of the 4^th Lateran. These artworks also reveal that there must have been a certain fear of the attractiveness of Judaism on part of the church around these times.