SexViolHist Bib: Cases: Biblical Cases: Susanna and the Elders

»Susanna (/suːˈzænə/ soo-ZAN-ə; Hebrew: שׁוֹשַׁנָּה, Modern: Shoshána, Tiberian: Šōšannā, lit. 'Lily'), also called Susanna and the Elders, is a narrative included in the Book of Daniel (as chapter 13) by the Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches and Eastern Orthodox Churches. It is one of the additions to Daniel, placed in the Apocrypha by Protestants, with Anabaptists, Lutherans, Anglicans and Methodists regarding it as non-canonical but useful for purposes of edification. The text is not included in the Jewish Tanakh and is not mentioned in early Jewish literature, although it does appear to have been part of the original Septuagint from the 2nd century BC, and was revised by Theodotion, a Hellenistic Jewish redactor of the Septuagint text (c. AD 150).
A fair Hebrew wife named Susanna bathes privately (having sent her attendants away) in her locked and walled garden. Two elders, having previously said goodbye to each other, bump into each other again when they spy on her bathing. The two men realize they both lust for Susanna. When she makes her way back to her house, they accost her, demanding she have sexual intercourse with them. When she refuses, they have her arrested, claiming that the reason she sent her maids away was to be alone as she was having intercourse with a young man under a tree.
She refuses to be blackmailed and is arrested and about to be put to death for adultery when the young Daniel interrupts the proceedings, shouting that the elders should be interrogated to prevent the death of an innocent.« (Extract from: Wikipedia)

K e y w o r d s

I. Chronological Index: Ancient History: Israelite History

II. Geographical Index: -

III. Topical Index: Types: General: Sexual Assault

B i b l i o g r a p h y

Representations: Art: Sisto Badalocchio, Agostino Carracci, Annibale Carracci, Ludovico Carracci, Domenichino, Artemisia Gentileschi, Kathleen Gilje, Guercino, Nalini Malani, Tintoretto | Musical Theatre: Carlisle Floyd | Religious Texts: Book of Daniel