Judas Iscariot

Judas Iscariot (died April AD 29–33, Hebrew יהודה איש־קריות Yəhûḏāh ʾΚ-qəriyyôṯ) was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve original apostles of Jesus, and the one who ultimately betrayed him.

Judas in art and literature

Judas has become the archetype of the betrayer in Western culture, with some role in vitually all literature telling the Passion story. In Dante's Inferno, he is condemned to the lowest circle of Hell, where he is one of three sinners deemed evil enough that they are doomed to be chewed for eternity in the mouths of the triple-headed Satan. (The others are Brutus and Cassius, who conspired against and assassinated Julius Caesar.)

Related Topics:
Passion - Dante - Inferno - Hell - Satan - Brutus - Cassius - Julius Caesar

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• Book by Armando Cosani: The Flight of the Feathered Serpent, suggests the untold story of Judas as a Spiritual Master.
• Jorge Luis Borges' short story Three Versions of Judas gives several interpretations of Judas' story, one of which concludes that Judas is the true savior of humanity.
• U2's song "Until the End of the World" from Achtung Baby contains lyrics which are basically a conversation between Judas Iscariot and Jesus Christ.
• Bob Dylan's song "With God on Our Side", contains the following lines that refer to Judas Iscariot:

:In a many dark hour

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:I've been thinkin' about this

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:That Jesus Christ

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:Was betrayed by a kiss

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:But I can't think for you

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:You'll have to decide

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:Whether Judas Iscariot

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:Had God on his side.

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• The Smashing Pumpkins B-side collection album Pisces Iscariot derives its title from Judas Iscariot.
• Rick Wakeman's album Criminal Record includes a 10 minute epic cut called Judas Iscariot.
• In Atreyu's song, "At Least I Know Im A Sinner", the second verse reads:

:Judge me and now you are me

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:And what's worse

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:You are now a traitor to your god

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:Tell me Judas,

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:How does it feel to be looked down upon?

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:Sinners like you,

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:Should be stung up from the highest tree

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• In the anime and manga Hellsing, Iscariot is the assassin squad of the Vatican, also known as Section XIII, the Zealot Judas, and the Assassin Judas. This is apparent from their oath.
• In the 1973 movie Jesus Christ Superstar, Judas is portrayed by African-American actor Carl Anderson. He is shown as a man who believes in and loves Jesus, but wants a lasting charity organization rather than a religious order. He fears that the emergence of a new religion centred on Jesus would cause the Romans to retaliate against all of the Jews. Torn between his love of Christ and his fear of an imminent destruction of his people, he regretfully betrays Jesus.
• Also in the film Jesus Christ Superstar, Judas is shown to be confused at first with Jesus companionship of Mary (the washing, etc) and furthermore worried at the commotion Jesus was creating in Jerusalem, ultimately leading Judas to 'betray'. The movie was said to give a new sympathetic light on Judas.
• In the film Dracula 2000, it was interpreted that Dracula was Judas Iscariot. It explains why Dracula fears the cross, silver, and the Bible, and why he is doomed to walk the world forever.
• In Mikhail Bulgakov's masterpiece The Master and Margarita, the entire story of Christ is portrayed differently. In the case of Judas, Bulgakov presents a parody of the betrayal of Christ, as though first-century Jerusalem were Moscow in the 1920s-1930s. Pilate is talking to his head of the secret service, and mentions that he "heard a rumor" stating that Judas of Kerioth was slated for an early grave, so "I expect you to do your best to help him". After Judas's death ("A shame, I understand you did your best..."), Pilate ponders rhetorically, asking whether "he might have killed himself?", thereby starting the biblical account of Judas's suicide.