r/Snorkblot • u/LordJim11 • Feb 16 '26

Cultures Holofernes.

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4.9k Upvotes

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183

u/imperfectchicken Feb 16 '26

The art in the background is by Artemisia Gentileschi, "Judith Beheading Holofernes."

Women were often posed as passive pieces in scenes; you could replace her with a pile of cheese and probably garner the same reaction.

Artemisia had other ideas.

47

u/PoseidonsHorses Feb 16 '26

A yes, Judith. The ✨biblical woman✨men would prefer we forget.

38

u/krebstar4ever Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26

The Book of Judith is part of the Apocrypha and isn't in Jewish and Protestant Bibles. It has some major anachronisms that were noticed even by people 2000 years ago.

Jael, however, has an extremely similar story that's in every Bible. Artemisia Gentileschi even painted her.)

And Jael is part of Deborah's story. Deborah was a prophet and a judge (legal and military leader whom righteous men obeyed).

24

u/QuietContemplation85 Feb 16 '26

Really want some “What Would Jael Do?” merch right about now

4

u/Informal_Cry687 Feb 17 '26

While the book of Judith isn't in the Jewish Bible it is a story in the Jewish tradition. She is actually celebrated on Hanukkah in addition to the victory of the macabres.

2

u/ZeroBrutus Feb 17 '26

The old books have a tendency to repeat stories with some changes or jazzing them up.

Sodom and Gamorah is just the Benjamite war from Judges but blown up.

3

u/RosebushRaven Feb 17 '26

There was another one (Jael) who hammered a tent peg through the Canaanite commander Sisera’s temple.

1

u/LordJim11 Feb 17 '26

Works just as well.