The image-makers of Moissac added a devil to the Biblical narrative depicting a demon
accepting Cain's offering when God refused it.
Inscribed: Abel; The sheaf of Cain; The demon receives it; Cain kills Abel; Cain, where is Abel, your brother? I do not know.
Biblical source: Genesis 4:1-16
| DETAILS | |||
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![]() Detail: North view: God with an angel. |
![]() Detail: South view: the Devil. |
![]() Detail: east view: impost |
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Related capitals:
Old Testament Capitals:
Capital 5: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Capital 8: David and his musicians
Capital 19: Samson
Capital 22: Adam and Eve
Capital 48: Daniel in the Lions Den, Habakkuk
Capital 53: 3 Hebrews in the fiery furnace
Capital 57: Abraham sacrifices Isaac
Capital 61: Daniel in the Lion's Den
Capital 67: Anointing of David
Capital 76: David and Goliath
Genesis 4:1-16
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord."
2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of fruit of the ground
4 and Abel brought the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."
8 Cain said to Abel his brother, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"
10 And the Lord said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.
11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
13 Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the ground; and from thy face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will slay me."
15 Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him.
16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
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The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Revised Standard Version.
Inscriptions based on Robert Favereau, Jean Michaud, and Bernadette Leplant, Corpus des Inscriptions de la France Medievale. Vol. 8, Ariege, Haute-Garonne,
Hautes-Pyrenees, Tarn-et-Garonne. Paris: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1982.
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