Britannica Sources used in this answer

What were the three main types of medieval religious plays?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ancient Egyptian illustration from the Book of the Dead showing Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, with gods seated above and hieroglyphic text throughout. — Western theatre Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, c. 1275 bce.

The three principal types of vernacular religious drama in the European Middle Ages were the mystery play, the miracle play, and the morality play.12

Mystery plays: These dramas typically depicted biblical subjects, ranging from the Creation and Adam and Eve to the Last Judgment. Originally performed by churchmen, they were later produced by trade guilds in the vernacular and often organized into lengthy cycles that covered the entire biblical narrative.234
Miracle plays: This genre focused on accounts of the lives, miracles, or martyrdoms of saints. They were particularly associated with the cults of the Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas, often highlighting the belief in the healing power of saintly relics.1
Morality plays: Emerging in the 15th century, these plays functioned as dramatized sermons using allegory. They portrayed the human life span as a pilgrimage, featuring abstract characters—such as the Seven Deadly Sins, Humility, or Ignorance—that contended for the soul of a central figure representing Mankind.5