Tod durch Torheit. Zu den Narrendarstellungen in der Birthälmer Pfarrkirche
Death by foolishness. Contribution to the representation of fools in the church of Birthälm

Summary/Abstract: Reflects on the represenation of fools in the evangelical church in Birthälm (Biertan). This kind of decoration represents a very rare testament of the criticism of mores during the pre-reformation era. The fools in the Birthälm church date back probably to the year 1522. During the 15th century, the foll in its classical form became a well-known motif in the Habsburg countries as a mean of criticism against the deficiencies in moral and social life. The author presents the phenomenen of representating fools in the context of late medieval european cultural history. Fools were a symbol for the unbelieving, so their function in churches was to remind people of penitence. The iconografic representation was often connected to death, as a warning for those who ignored the warnings. Includes 14 pictures.

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