When Salome attempts to test her theory by examining Mary, her hands shrivel up and fall off. Here she is, in another depiction of the Nativity, minus two important body parts.
Talk about an act of God, right?
When Jesus is born, Salome recognizes him as the Messiah and son of God. It’s a pretty startling example of body horror in the Bible, captured in medieval manuscripts of the 15th century.
Salome wasn’t commonly seen in artistic representations of the Nativity. However, medieval artists had agency and their own personalities, and to some, the moral of Salome’s story—have faith in God, or else—resonated enough to merit inclusion.
Don’t worry too much about Salome. She gets her hands back once she realizes the error of her ways. Look closely at the picture above, and you’ll see an angel returning her missing appendages.
Show of hands: who learned something new today?
For more spooky content, head to Getty’s Instagram to watch Macabre Minute with Mel.
