Why is Satan depicted as ugly and frightening looking?

[Eddi]

Why is Satan normally depicted as ugly and frightening looking?

It assumes that evil = ugly, and ugly = evil

Which I don't think is true

I mean sometimes evil can be seductive and attractive, and good hideously ugly

A person can be both good looking and morally repulsive

It kind of looks as though people don't have valid reasons for thinking that Satan is evil so resort to making him repulsive so as to make him less attractive, in contrast to Jesus, who always looks respectable and well groomed, wearing immaculately clean white robes even though he would never bath or get the opportunity to wash his garments

I think that Jesus would have looked more like a homeless person - which is exactly what he was! See Matthew 8:20

Personally, I think that Satan is depicted as he is to make him instantly unattractive to people, to mark him as an enemy, an inhuman enemy

Which I think is really quite shoddy

Pic related:

 

[Tomef]

Why is Satan normally depicted as ugly and frightening looking?

It assumes that evil = ugly, and ugly = evil

Which I don't think is true

I mean sometimes evil can be seductive and attractive, and good hideously ugly

A person can be both good looking and morally repulsive

It kind of looks as though people don't have valid reasons for thinking that Satan is evil so resort to making him repulsive so as to make him less attractive, in contrast to Jesus, who always looks respectable and well groomed, wearing immaculately clean white robes even though he would never bath or get the opportunity to wash his garments

I think that Jesus would have looked more like a homeless person - which is exactly what he was! See Matthew 8:20

Personally, I think that Satan is depicted as he is to make him instantly unattractive to people, to mark him as an enemy, an inhuman enemy

Which I think is really quite shoddy

Pic related:

View attachment 92028

Notions about satan in the bible are pretty jumbled, but one interpretation has him as an angel of light. Elsewhere he is described as an ancient serpent, or dragon. Not necessarily demonic looking, dragons can be quite fetching. The accuser in Job (whom some Christians take to be satan) doesn’t get a description, bad or good, but he’s part of the heavenly court so presumably not too shabby.

 

[SalixIncendium]

If he looked like this…

…who would fear him?

 

[ChristineM]

There are lots of paintings of Lucifer that dipict him as beautiful.

 

[Eddi]

If he looked like this…

View attachment 92030

…who would fear him?

If the shadow he cast was different to his actual shape then yes! That would be grounds for fearing him!

But isn't fearing him because of how he looks a bit rubbish?

Surely it would be better to fear him for what he stands for? And does?

 

[Jainarayan]

If he looked like this…

View attachment 92030

…who would fear him?

****!!! I'd be all over him like a duck on a junebug!

And then of course there's this guy. He looks more mischievous than evil. Mmm mmm mmm!


Somebody's knocking, should I let him in?
Lord, it's the devil. Would you look at him.
I heard about him but I never dreamed
He'd have blue eyes and blue jeans.

 

[Jainarayan]

Why is Satan normally depicted as ugly and frightening looking?

When I was Catholic and went to Sunday School, aka CCD classes the nuns used to say he is actually very attractive and charismatic. That's why people are drawn to him. Btw, Jesus in that picture ain't no slouch either.

 

[firedragon]

Why is Satan normally depicted as ugly and frightening looking?

Very good point. Just that people fear this so called satan and they picture in their mind a scary creature and put those images out. This is true with so many characters and things. Look at most of Jesus's images around the world. We have no clue what they looked like.

 

[Quintessence]

Why wouldn't a culture depict one of their mythical figures that is supposed to be despised and hated in ways that are unsavory? It'd be more bizarre if the culture didn't do this - and it would send a very different message about that culture's regard for that mythical figure. The way a story is told - in words or in art - always matters.

 

[1213]

Why is Satan normally depicted as ugly and frightening looking?

It is interesting, because Bible tells:
...for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
2 Cor. 11:14

But, by what I see, what person is inside, usually comes visible on outside also. If person has evil and ugly mind, it will show also in the outlook. Perhaps that is why the ugly depiction.