The Woodwose, sometimes called the Wild Man, is very similar to the Green Man. Both appear in ancient mythology and have their origins in ancient paganism. And since they became subsumed into Christianity in mediaeval times, both can often be found as decoration in Churches.Whilst the Green Man, a pre-Christian fertility symbol, is usually depicted with the face half-covered in leaves and vines emanating from the mouth, the Woodwose is usually shown as a complete part-human figure carrying a club, with the limbs being leafy. It also often shows a thick beard and wears a cap. The Woodwose may also be shown holding the club in different positions. Sometimes this is on its side and sometimes it is raised. There is a theory that a raised club depicts the figure before it was converted to Christianity, but it’s probably more correct to believe that it was raised to ward off evil spirits.
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Many thanks for the link. I love the illustration you've used. I've decided not to add any illustrations at all to the articles on my new site - which certainly makes uploading things easier :)
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