Medieval art and literature literally placed Muslims in hell as demons

Evidence

Hell was a favorite subject of medieval artists, often represented as a place occupied by every imaginable horror. Muslims were placed in hell (alongside Jews, in some cases) through a number of literary and artistic conventions. In literature and art, Saracens (often, but not always, representing Arabs) were portrayed as demons, black-skinned monsters, Satan, or souls condemned to the underworld. In these lines from Richard Coeur de Lion, Saracens are described as souls trapped in hell: “Allas Mahoun! What has he ment, This Ynglyssche dogge that hygthe Fouke? He is no man, he is a pouke, That out off helle is jstole!” In many cases, the language is almost identical to that found in descriptions of devils in Harrowing of Hell dramas, thus equating Muslims to demons once again. — Sophia Rose Arjana, Muslims in the Western Imagination, 92

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to later work on how Muslims were eschatologically damned in Christian theology and art; also parallels the treatment of Jews in medieval Passion plays.