While not concealed, many european cathedrals have carvings that are
designed to ensnare or block the entrance of the "wicked". It has
been years, but if I remember correctly, Regensburg has a carving of
the "Devil's grandmother" in the entranceway. The idea being that the
carving would prevent Satan and his minions from entering the
building. Other cathedrals have similar carvings.
James Brothers, RPA
[log in to unmask]
On Aug 29, 2006, at 17:11, Ron May wrote:
> Marty,
>
> It is a pity I did not think of these things back 25+ years ago
> when Mary
> Price brought me her medicine bag. I did not know chicken from hawk
> feet then
> and probably would not know now. But I did recognize the historical
> importance
> of the items and strove to make her feel comfortable with retaining
> the bag
> and contents for historical and family values. Now that you
> mention it, I am
> sure there are Cherokee historians who could provide answers to
> all her
> questions. But, given her chain smoking back then, I would be
> surprised if she is
> still alive.
>
> Your experience with the Irish immigrants is interesting. Back
> around 2000,
> when I delivered the paper to the SHA on concealments, I sat with a
> group of
> archaeologists in a Greek restaurant. The waitress, who was a
> Hungarian
> immigrant, explained how they ward her houses with items to prevent
> evil ghosts
> from entering during the night. Another person told me Europeans carve
> protective marks on the sills, lintels, and other obscure places
> for the same reason.
> They rationalize these practices within variations on Judaeo-Christian
> religions, but the root was probably pre-Christian. I am certain
> the concealed
> boot/shoe tradition is non-Christian, as pagans who have been
> willing to talk
> admit as much.
>
> Ron
|