Green Man Winter White Plaque by Oberon Zell
The Green Man is an archetypal form of the God of Vegetation. He is known by many names all over the world and throughout history. He has been called Jack-in-the-Green, Atthys, Adonis, Lono, Xipe, Dionysus and most anciently Tammuz. Tammuz was the Sumerian Green Man, lover of the Goddess Inanna. His story is the oldest agricultural cycle: He is born in the Spring, loves in the Summer, cut down at the Harvest, spends Winter in the Underworld only to be reborn once more in the Spring. It is the same tale as the English folksong of John Barleycorn. Like the Egyptian green-faced God Osiris, these gods are all associated with the brewing of beer.
The most direct predecessor of the Green Man or foliate face is the Mask of Dionysus, used in classical Greek religious dramas. These were hung on temples as antefixes to guard from hostile influences. Dionysus, called Bacchus by the Romans, was the God of the Vine, crushed to death to make wine, "the blood of the God." This symbolism was adopted into Christianity with the sacrament of communion. Another influence, the pre-Christian Celtic cult of the head, produced leaf and interlace stone faces for monuments. The Dionysian mask/antefix and the Celtic leaf head fused in the artforms of the Dark and Middle Ages and became a major symbol used by stonemasons to decorate the cathedrals that proliferated throughout Europe.
Early on the Green Man was shown as sorrowing or sinister to echo the church's feelings about the evil of Nature worship. Later, during the Gothic period, the Green Man was depicted as triumphantly celebrating the resurrection, showing a hopeful resurgence of belief in the beauty of Nature reflecting the goodness of the Creation. At this time he is reunited with the Great Mother Goddess in the form of the Virgin Mary whose images also adorned the cathedral. In modern times the Green Man is appropriately associated with the Arthurian legend of the Green Knight, who comes to us at a time when we are vitally concerned with the "greening of the Earth" in order to insure our survival into the next century. Once more like the Springtime, the Green Man has returned to us.
This lovely cast resin plaque is hand painted in Winter white and 6 inches in diameter.
Product Code:
MT-GMPQ-W
|
Approximate Size (Inches): 6.00 wide x 0.50 deep x 6.00 high
|
Approximate Shipping Weight: 2.00 lbs.
Availability: |
Inventory is updated regularly. Items out of stock are indicated above with estimated time of arrival (ETA) when known. Not all manufacturers provide inventory data and even in stock items can be sold out without notice. We will notify you of any out of stock items as soon as possible or you can contact us in advance to verify availability. Out of stock items will automatically ship when available unless canceled by you. |
*Average Delivery: |
This is the estimated time for delivery within the USA and is subject to availability, seasonal sales volume, and other unforeseen delays. If you must have an item by a specific date, let us know in cart comments during checkout. |
Express Delivery: |
Not all items are available for express delivery. Items which are Made to Order or that require freight truck delivery are not, for example. If you require express delivery, you can contact us to verify it is available for that item. Overnight delivery is available in some cases but require a special shipping quote. Contact Us for details. |
International Delivery |
We ship from the US - add 10-15+ days to average delivery for most countries. Transit time will vary depending on customs & exact destination and we cannot guarantee delivery date.
Import taxes are NOT charged by our cart. Your country may charge import duties, taxes, or fees before delivery - contact your local customs office for information. For faster shipping and pre-set charges, you may want to set up a US address with a freight forwarding company which also gives you free shipping from us if your order is $75 or more.
We do not normally offer express shipping for international orders. Contact us for a quote if required - delivery dates are NOT guaranteed.
|
Returns |
Most items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of delivery. Some exceptions apply. See our full return policy for details. |
For more information see FAQs, Terms & Conditions, Delivery & Shipping, or Contact Us.