#Spooktober 3: Dulle Griet
Dulle Griet, literally “Mad Meg,” is a figure from Dutch folklore and art, often depicted as a terrifying figure leading an army of women into Hell. In the most famous depictions, she is shown as a woman dressed in ragged clothes or clad in armour; she often wields a weapon such as a sword or […]
Dulle Griet, literally “Mad Meg,” is a figure from Dutch folklore and art, often depicted as a terrifying figure leading an army of women into Hell.
In the most famous depictions, she is shown as a woman dressed in ragged clothes or clad in armour; she often wields a weapon such as a sword or a large kitchen tool like a pan or ladle, like a chaotic warrior blending elements of the domestic and the demonic.
Dulle Griet is also frequently depicted in the company of other grotesque figures—women who are described as having abandoned all social norms. Which, as we know, is the scariest thing to men.
According to legend, Dulle Griet leads a group of women on a raid into Hell itself, plundering the underworld and bringing chaos to its inhabitants. This bold, almost absurd act makes her a symbol of defiance, and her behaviour is often interpreted as a reflection of the societal fears surrounding women who step outside their expected roles. Hell represents ultimate authority and punishment, but not even that can scare her army.
In some versions of the legend, she is depicted as a vengeful woman who has lost everything and decided to fight back against the Devil, while in others, she is portrayed as a woman driven mad by greed or the desire for power.
Dulle Griet’s raid on Hell can also be seen as a satirical comment on human folly, illustrating how greed, anger, and chaos persist even in the face of ultimate damnation.
The legend of Dulle Griet was popularized by the famous Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder in his painting Dulle Griet (1563). This artwork is one of the most well-known depictions of Griet and serves as the primary visual representation of her legend. In Bruegel’s painting, Griet is shown as a large, powerful woman striding across a hellish landscape and leading her female followers into battle, stealing from Hell itself, with monstrous creatures and nightmarish scenes unfolding around her.
The painting captures the chaotic energy of the legend—hellfire burns in the background, and strange, demonic beings lurk in every corner. Griet herself seems undeterred, moving forward, and she carries a bag of plunder.
The painting is now housed in the Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp, Belgium.
In addition to Bruegel’s work, Dulle Griet has also appeared in various forms in modern art, often reinterpreted by contemporary artists exploring themes of female empowerment, madness, and rebellion. These modern depictions of Dulle Griet often emphasize her role as a feminist icon—a woman who refuses to conform to society’s expectations and instead takes control of her own destiny, even if it means storming the gates of Hell itself.
You can read more about her in this article.