Epilepsy in the Bible (III): Zillis

It is a very special stroke of luck, that the painted ceiling of St Martin’s Church in Zillis, (Switzerland, Graubünden Canton) has been preserved for posterity.  The 153 square pinewood panels, measuring approximately 90 cm on each side, were painted in the 12th century, probably between 1130 and 1140. The colourful church ceiling in Zillis is unique in the world, having remained almost unchanged since the Romanesque era until today and, to a large extent, having survived undamaged.

105 panels portray mainly persons and events from the New Testament, with only very few having scenes from the Old Testament as their subject.   This “inner cycle” is surrounded by 48 border panels (“outer cycle”) which portray dragons, sirens and other mythical creatures as well as recognisable, but for the post part fantastical animal forms; only infrequently are a few angels and human figures to be found on these border panels.

Whenever and wherever the contents of the Bible, especially the life of Jesus Christ as depicted in the four Gospels, were communicated pictorially to the illiterate people of the Christian Middle Ages, the miracles that the Son of God had accomplished  during his earthly existence played a special part – so also in the imagery of the church ceiling in Zillis.  Among other miraculous healings, the healing of the "moonstruck" boy is also portrayed here, as depicted in the Gospel of Mark (Mk 9, 14-27), on panel 106 of the illustrated ceiling.

The picture shows 5 figures:  in the centre Christ (with halo adorned with a cross), nearby on the left an unidentified disciple (with simple halo), on the right two men, each pointing at Christ with the right arm, and finally a considerably smaller person lying on the ground.

This presents pictorially how an anxious father (who can be seen furthest to the right, next to an unidentified companion) brings his "moonstruck”, i.e. epileptic son to Christ with a plea that he should be healed.  The father’s plea for help had already been previously given to the disciples (Christ only appeared at the scene later), but these had not been able to help the boy.   Possibly the frowning person to the left of the father alludes to the disappointment experienced.

At the moment the boy was brought before Christ, “straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming” (Mark 9:20).  This very scene is recorded on the panel; the boy is lying on the ground, cross-eyed, with his body slightly contorted.  It is striking that the right hand of the fallen boy lies under Christ's left foot.  There are two possible interpretations for this detail:  Either the “convulsing” boy with his uncontrolled movements is clutching at the “first thing available” or – and this interpretation seems to be more probable – the hand thus positioned represents the “entreating submission” that the son and his worried father are directing at Christ.

As readers of the Bible know, Christ healed the boy by casting out the evil spirit (exorcism) – however this therapeutic measure is not shown on the picture panel in Zillis.