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Literature: Judas and Oedipus

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Medieval legends about Judas appear throughout Europe in many different languages. The standard story is remarkably similar to the story of Oedipus. As summarized by Paull Franklin Baum, the medieval Judas story normally was this:

“Judas . . . was the son of Jewish parents living at Jerusalem: his father’s name was Reuben, his mother’s Cyborea. One night Cyborea dreamed that she was about to conceive, and that her child was destined to become the destruction of the whole Jewish race. In great anxiety she related her dream to Reuben, who advised her to pay no attention to such matters-they came from the evil spirit. In due time, however, a son was born; the memory of the dream returned, and in fear lest possibly it might come true, the infant, Judas,was set adrift on the sea in a small chest. Wind and wave brought him to the island of Scariot – whence his name. . . .

“Here the Queen of the island, who had no children and was eager for a young prince to succeed to the throne, discovered the babe, which was very handsome, and, sending word throughout the land that she was with child, had Judas secretly nursed until she could proclaim him as her own. Thus Judas was brought up in royal fashion, as heir to the kingdom. But it came about before very long that the Queen had a son by the King. The two children grew up together, but after a time the wickedness that was in Judas’s nature began to come to the surface, and he frequently beat and otherwise abused his putative brother.

“In spite of the Queen’s remonstrances he continued to maltreat the true prince, until finally in a fit of anger the Queen made known to him his irregular origin. In wrath at learning this Judas seized the first opportunity to kill his brother, then for fear of the consequences took ship and fled to Jerusalem. There his courtly manners and evil instincts secured him a place in Pilate’s retinue. One day Pilate, looking into his neighbor’s garden, was seized with an irresistible desire for some fruit which he saw there; and Judas agreed to procure it for him.

“Now, although Judas was ignorant of the fact, the garden and the fruit were the possession of his own father, Reuben. Before he succeeded in gathering this fruit Reuben appeared; an altercation followed, which developed into a fight; and finally Reuben was slain. Since there were no witnesses to the murder, Reuben was reported to have died suddenly, and Judas, with Pilate’s connivance, took in marriage the widowed Cyborea, together with her house and property.

“The bride was extremely unhappy and sighed frequently. Being asked one day by her husband the cause of her grief, she related enough of her story to enable Judas to recognize his double crime of parricide and incest. Both were afflicted with great remorse, but on Cyborea’s suggestion Judas resolved to go to Jesus and seek pardon and forgiveness. He soon became a favorite disciple, and was made steward of the Twelve. But again his evil nature asserted itself, and he betrayed his Master to the Jews for thirty pieces of silver: thereafter he again suffered remorse and, having returned the money, hanged himself.”

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 4:23 am

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Literature: Judas and Oedipus

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