Harrowing of Hell

English

Proper noun

the Harrowing of Hell

  1. (Christianity, theology) Christ's freeing from the underworld of those souls of the dead who were to go to Heaven.
    • 1991, M. B. McNamee, “Beowulf-An Allegory of Salvation?”, in Robert D. Fulk, editor, Interpretations of Beowulf, Indiana University Press, page 94:
      The source of the Harrowing of Hell tradition is, of course, the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, the oldest manuscripts of which date back to the fifth century, and that work was tremendously popular in England from the earliest days of Christianity there.

Usage notes

While it is mentioned in the Apostles' Creed that Christ descended into Hell, the term is closely associated with stories told in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, that he triumphed over Satan and brought salvation to particular Old Testament figures, such as Adam and Eve. It was a popular subject of miracle plays in medieval England.

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