Galicia
GREEN MEN OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA 4
Nearby places: Osiera, Lugo

 


Was soll ein Grüner Mann über der Mitte des Südportals? Oder ist es eine Ironisierung des Buddha?

THE OTHER SANTIAGO

South portals are often decorated abundantly with Green Men. Simply because the portal is used intensively, a favorable location for PR actions....Like in other churches there are very archaic images here. The Green Man as "Beast" f.i. It connects to pre-historic times, where men identified themselves with their hunting animals. The goal: transmission of strength. The animals were at the same time creatures of the Cosmic Mother, hence the images of the LINK: The Lady and the (Her) beasts which you can find everywhere. Man and "Beast" are therefore often exchanged. The Templer have a.o. contributed to the fact that the Green Man is often a "Beast" in churches. LINK: Eunate. Artaiz, Soest Nowadays Green Man as animal has regained great actuality: LINK: Eco-Hopeful

Green Man/Cat. The way the Templers liked to portray him (inspired by the old Egyptian religion)

Beautiful, beautiful.....

What you often see in churches. The "pagans" are crushed by the feet of a "saint", despised and treated like "beasts". Shocking examples: LINK: Chartres, Perignac, Oppenheim

A small corner at the exterior of the church. Unfortunately the sculptures are too far away

Casa de la Parra

Like at the West (Main) portal the Church is confronted with - for them - horror images. At the front side of house "De la Parra", once again a public house, there exist nine or so Green Men, full of strength, selfconscious and beautiful..

GREEN MEN OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA 5

Back

 © 2000-2010 Copyright Han Marie Stiekema
Last revising: 12/31/09