SCULPTURE
GOLEM
By Benjamin Davis
The golem symbolizes an incomplete, unintelligent human form in ancient Jewish folklore. In the Bible, "golem" translates to a mute man formed from dust or mud.
Judah Loew ben Bezalel ( 1520 - 1609 ) created the legend "The Golem of Prague". Middle Ages mysticism initiated the belief that the Hebrew inscription "truth" on his forehead would activate the creature, but removal of one letter, changing the word to mean "death" would deactivate him.
Modern interpretation of the golem has led to its inclusion as a robotic, dumb, literally obedient and sometimes violent character.
In literature: H. Leivik 1921 - in Yiddish "The Golem", I.B. Singer as well as Elie Wiesel used this legend as a basis of their golem stories, and Chabon in "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" used the Golem as a character.
In films: Wegener's "The Golem" - 1921 and "It!" with Roddy McDowell - 1966.
In video gaming: Dungeons and Dragons, Diablo.