Spain’s green men & sheela na gigs
Hirsute woman with monkey - Avila Cathedral Spain. Photo by Sarah Keen
Would you like an audio guide? my husband asked as we entered the cathedrals of Northern Spain. Each time I shook my head. No. I had huge books on the Cathedrals of Spain; their architecture, their inspiration, how they cleaned the medieval glass with gin and each carefully labelled chapel with tortured saints. No. Nothing would explain the other things that crawled over the stone walls; namely hairy green men and women with open genitalia. The example above proves my point. ‘Hirsute woman with monkey’ was the sole curt comment on the audio.
Is it though? Is it a monkey? Where is its tail. The couple are chained together - bound by sin? If so - why are they either side of a heraldic shield. Why would you want this couple across your arms. They are surrounded by verdant green leaves and twining branches. Where are they? Who are they
This woman has an exposed breast and open vulva - see gallery below. She is not alone and green men are everywhere.
I would love to know who these people are and who they relate to our Sheela na gigs and wild men that live around us; embedded in cathedrals, castles , farms. They surround us but we are taught not to see them and the carefully curated guides pay them only the slightest glance as they hurtle round the rapt pillars and columns that teem with all things other than angels and saints.
What in the name of all that is holy are they trying to tell us?
