Well, not the guys from outer space. I’m talking about the Green Men sculptures that medieval craftsmen carved to decorate gothic cathedrals all over Europe, especially in Britain. I’ve been fascinated with these figures since, well, forever. When I was in my late twenties, one of the first rugs I made had a big Green Man face with autumn leaves spraying around him. That why I called myself “Red Jack Rugs” for a long time.
Big pot in progress
Anyway, these faces have begun showing up on my ceramic pots and wall art. So I guess I’ll go with it.
Green Men faces are usually found up in the rafters, on doors and lintels, situated in places where the gargoyles also live. There are many theories floating around about what they mean. Why would craftsmen have put so many of them on the cathedrals? In Britain alone, there are 1172 of these guys, and average of three per church.
Foliate heads of Gods are well-known from ancient Greece and Rome. Dionysus the God of wine and revelry was a favorite. So the decorative design was already around. Medieval craftsmen likely were aware of the design but their usage is signaling something else. They weren’t putting Dionysus on their churches.
Given their placement – they seem to be alternatives for the gargoyle – and their scary mouths, bared teeth, and wonky eyes, my academic self says they are wardens. They are like the “evil eye” or the gargoyle, warding off evil.
So that’s what I going with. The Green Men turning up on my pots are guardians, either of house or garden. Let’s see them come to life!