Page 9 - Leighton News June 2018
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THE GREEN MAN In Art & MYTH

There are countless images of the Green Man carvings positioned over church door

Green Man and almost as many ways, frequently have faces

theories about what they represent. spouting copious growths of

Generally, the origin was thought to be leaves and shoots from

a pagan figure of rebirth and fertility – mouths and nostrils.

a nature spirit, similar to the wild man Dr Bostwick’s theory was

of the woods. However he frequently that this was not an

appears, carved in wood or stone, in indication of fertility but was

churches, chapels, abbeys and cathedrals. actually a form of tongues.

Manifestations can be found dating from around 400 Tongues which blocked speech

AD in France to 20th century sculptures, pub signs, and unwise utterances. The

‘new age’ festivals and moulded resin garden carvings were used as a visual

ornaments. aid in an era when the majority

The Green Man symbol is also found in many of the population could not

cultures from many ages around the world – always read. His theory was backed up

related to plant deities. Could the same mythology with many references from the

have developed independently in the traditions of Bible – be quiet and respectful

separate ancient cultures and evolved into the wide in the house of God – hold your tongue, don’t spout

variety of examples found throughout history? nonsense and so on. Priests would conduct tours for

The tradition of the the illiterate parishioners
Green Man being
carved on to to explain the
Christian churches
exists across Europe. significance of these
But why would a
pagan image con- warnings above the
tinue in church
architecture to the entrances. So the Green
present day? Why
does Leighton Man symbol was used by
Church built in 1853
have a Green Man over two churches to admonish
carved on a pew inside?
congregations and

eventually the face was

constrained behind either

five discs or the five

World’s Largest Green Man points of a pentagram
both of which could
entrances and also
represent the five joys of Mary of

The speaker at the mid Wales meeting in May was the five wounds of Christ.
Dr David Bostwick, who lectures in many aspects of
medieval art and has studied instances of Green Man The talk ended with a return to
more generalised mythical
appearances throughout green characters regarded as
LEIGHTON CHURCH Europe and the United States. influential figures — Robin
Hood, the Green Knight, Peter
The wild man seen as a green Pan and Father Christmas who

hairy figure was thought to be was green and quite hairy in Victorian
a benign character and he
illustrations only being re-branded by Coca Cola in

evolved into the vegetation the 20th century.

Vestry door: fierce teeth, covered face seen in so many Our teak carving (top of the page) came from
places throughout the world. Indonesia and there are so many other instances
Dr Bostwick’s illustration of around the world that we are a long way from

no tongue a face with acorns was used finding the single unified theory of green personae

to dismiss the idea that the — best to just get out and enjoy the variety of related

Green Man was a symbol of art and entertainment available.

South door: mouth regeneration in spring time And where is the largest Green Man installation in
blocked with vegetation — acorns appear in autumn the world? It’s right here in Powys —a huge maze at
at the end of the year. Penpont, Brecon.
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