[Death and dying in medieval times]

Out of the complex theme a specific phenomenon is chosen which most likely can be assigned to the appearance of the plague in Europe in the late medieval times: 'the dance of death' mainly in its artistic, particular graphical expression. To this intent the 2600 originals of the Düsseldorf University collection are used. The prerequisites for this novel art are discussed: the sudden outbreak of the plague in Italy 1347/48, the precursors of the legend about the three living and the three dead, the so-called 'transitoriness poems', the 'Conflictus literature' and other ideas about symbolism of death in classical antiquity and early christianism are opposed to the dances of death. The latter and confrontation of the various classes and professions with the merciless death over the following centuries is used with many examples to show the changing views up to the present times. The strong religious component subsides slowly in the Baroque to a more extroverted depiction. The Age of Elightment presents yet other pictures than the 19th and 20th century where death is confronted with still new professions and events, also from technical domains. Medicine and the physicians play an important role in this from the beginning on. The question after the memento mori remains for the mortal.