The Harrowing of Hell

By Crusader1307

A common 3rd Century AD Christian Belief, the concept of ''The Harrowing of Hell'', was an early Medieval development, by which Jesus Christ – after His ''death'' (execution), descended into Hell during one of his ''3 days'' of physical death (laying in The Tomb), and prior to His Resurrection. During this Period, Jesus supposedly – now as the metaphorical ''Bridge of Salvation'', went there to gather the Souls of The Righteous. These were ''Old Testament Heroes'' and other prominent figures from Christianity. These Souls so gleaned and sent to Heaven, Jesus would also be tasked with having a ''discussion'' with Satan, and thus establishing the complete adversarial relationship between the two. Much of The ''Harrowing'' Theory and explanation was born of Gnostic Texts (deemed Heresy by The Church). But some referencing of the Event vaguely appear in both Christian and Islamic writings. Bu the 8th Century AD – ''The Harrowing'' would become a very popular form of ''Church Sponsored'' Art Subject, with most of the ''visual'' of The Event so ''cemented'' into Cultural perceptions.