The Green Man | A Pagan God Hiding in Plain Sight?

Pagan God or Modern Myth?

In this episode of Deity Tracker, we trace the origins and meaning of the vine covered figure peering down at us from our religious and secular buildings.

Is this a pre-christian nature spirit hiding plain sight? A symbol of death and rebirth? Is this simply an architectural motif? Or is this the mossy face of Christ?

We will look at Laday Raglan's controversial claim of an "Unofficial Paganism" persisting alongside Christianity as well as James Frazer and his 'Golden Bough' the classic work on Magic and Religion.

The dying and returning gods of history, from Egypt to Mesopotamia; the Celtic world to ancient Greece and Rome; From Osiris, to Cernunnos, from Bacchus to Oceanus to Pan.

We will explore the carved foliate and disgorging heads of medieval churches as well as the folklore of the period, from tales of king Arthur to the exploits of Robin Hood and the Mythos of Ye Merry England.

Finally we will look at the modern notion of the Green Man in the environmental and countercultural movements and what he means today.

Contents:

1:00 Intros

1:56 What is the Green Man?

3:43 Lady Raglan

5:27 The Solar Cycle and the Wheel of the Year

7:35 Dying and Returning Gods of the Ancient World

10:11 Cernunnos and Celtic Art

12:34 Okeanus

16:08 Pan, Faunus and Silvanus

18:21 Bacchus and Dionysus

22:31 The tomb of Saint Abre and the Great Palace Mosaic

23:50 Kilpeck Church and the Medieval Green Men

30:18 King Arthur

31:54 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

36:36 Al Khidr

38:11 Yama, Shiva and Kirtimukha

44:30 Wild Men and Woodwose

47:04 Robin Hood, The Puck and Ye Merry England

50:55 Civil War and Restoration

53:36 Oak King, Jack in the Green and modern Green Men

58:20 A Magic Mushroom Experience

01:00:36 "Green Man", a song and artwork by Tamsin Quin

01:05:35 Further reading

For a Link to Tamsins' excellent original pyrography artwork inspired by the Green Man, see her website at https://quinwoodcraft.com/

Thanks for watching folks. Stay green and wild.