The Green Man Mythos

The Green Man Mythos

Hauntingly wise Green Man "speaking" in hawthorn leaves. Parish Church in Sutton Bener, UK (c.1300)

Green Man, detail of a medieval misericord in Ludlow parish church.

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One of the more fascinating aspects of some of the early northern European mythology is the concept of the Green man. He appears as a face on many of the medieval churches, cathedrals, and great architecture across northern Europe. However if you read the history of the Green Man however you find the idea is not restricted to northern Europe The earliest known examples are in the art of Classical Rome, from where the idea seems to have moved northwards, to be adopted by Christianity and spread far and wide along the pilgrimage routes. There is the 14th Century poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/gawaintx.htm, there is the legend of Al- Khidr in Islamic lore http://khidr.org/. I have listed several links below that refer to the Green Man mythos.

The Mythology of the Green Man (article) by Gary R Varner

http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/edge/greenmen.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Man

http://www.mythinglinks.org/ct~greenmen.html

I plan to add a link in our bookstore to the book: "The Mythic Forest, the Green Man and the Spirit of Nature" when I next update the website.

Edward Frank

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 1 2008 4:21 pm
From: James Parton

Ed,

I have done much reading on the Green Man, Cernunnos and other Celtic/
European forest Deities. I also have a cool song about the Green Man
by Martin Donelly. I just wish I could legally share it.

HNY: James P.

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TOPIC: The Green Man Mythos
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/c876e73eaf982d5e?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 1 2008 7:53 pm
From: Steve G

Ed, ENTS-

The Green Man motif is also related to Pan, Puck, and Robin
Goodfellow, and has been observed as far afield as India. A welcome
retention from the early religions.

Steve G

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