 |
|
| This Figure is reported in C.P.J. Cave's
book 'Roof
Bosses in Medieval Churches' of all Cave's reported Sheela Na Gig
figures South Tawton is probably the best candidate for actually being a
sheela. The figure has been described as headless but as you can see
from the above photograph the head is bent upwards. Unusually the figure
is made from wood. There appears to be a cross marked on the figures
chest although personally I believe this to be down to natural cracking
rather than deliberate carving. Keith who has actually seen the figure
disagrees with this interpretation. The figure also has two breasts
marked on the chest which are faintly visible in the photograph. There
appears to be a vaginal cavity with a small round ball beneath the
opening. I'm not sure what this is supposed to represent but it could be
a ball of dung making the figure a "stool" figure. As Cave is
source for this figure I'm inclined to be suspicious but of all his
figures this one is the most "sheela" like.
Photographs by Keith Jones |
|
Close up of the Chest  |
Close up of the genital area
|
