Understandable and Teaching Holocaust Education, Cowan/Maitles, 2016.
Judensau sculptures
Originating in the thirteenth century, Judensau (literally meaning ‘Jew pig/sow’) sculptures dehumanised Jews by depicting them in various obscene activities with a pig, a symbol of filth. Commonly placed in the interiors of churches and cathedrals across Germany, they communicated to the general public that Jews were barely human and beast-like, and were a warning to Christians. Jews were distinguished in these sculptures by their wearing a pointed hat, sidelocks and a beard. In the following centuries Judensau sculptures were placed on the exterior of religious and public buildings, and provided an opportunity to make fun of Jews. The Judensau sculpture in Wittenberg is one of the most famous and is described as follows:
The Jew of Wittenberg grabs the sow’s behind with both hands, with one hand lifting the animal’s right hind leg, with the other lifting or holding the tail. His head is lifted to the side, and there can be no mistaking as to where his gaze is directed: right at the sow’s anus. (Wiedl, 2010: 340)
Several, like the one on the cathedral in Regensburg, depicted Jews suckling from a pig. Although Christians ate pig meat, pig or sow’s milk was not considered clean enough to consume. Yet Judensau sculptures depicted Jews ‘feeding from the very part that was not fit for (human) consumption’ (Wiedl, 2010:338). These anti-Jewish images alienated Jews further from society. There are isolated examples of Judensau sculptures elsewhere in Europe, e.g. in Austria, Belgium, France, Poland, Switzerland and Sweden. These sculptures were symbols of European antisemitic culture and many are on view to this day, with the oldest surviving one situated at the cathe-dral in Brandenburg (see Further Reading at the end of this chapter). The German priest Martin Luther (1483-1546) encouraged the building of Judensau sculptures. He regarded Jews as a threat and that they could only be saved by converting to Christianity. Gilbert (1986:19) states that Luther advised the following:
• Their synagogues should be set on fire
• Their homes should be destroyed
• They should live under one roof
• They should be stripped of their belongings
• They should be driven out of the country
