St. James, Avebury

[poliphilo]

While we're on the subject of fonts, there's a very similar one at  St. James, Avebury. I suppose it could even be the work of the same craftsman. Here the figure is apparently male. He has a staff or crozier in one hand and a book in the other and is wearing a short, pleated skirt. There are dragons at his feet- one on either side. His face is- again- a blank, though this time it looks as though vandalism is to blame. He could be Christ, or St James or- well-  anyone really.



Here's another odd fragment of ancient sculpture. It's been salvaged from somewhere or other and built into the church porch- just to the right of the door.  The church was a Saxon foundation, so maybe this fragment is Saxon too. It could be. It seems to represent someone being baptized or healed or blessed or converted or ordained. Whatever it is, he's very happy about it.  



And here's what the church looks like from the outside.

Comments

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Just to remind you... I always enjoy your photos!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.:)

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

maybe it's John the Baptist on the font?

but the lady with the green leaves coming out of where green leaves don't normally go, on your previous set of photos, was very interesting!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

John the Baptist is as good a guess as any. I sort of favour St Michael.

The Winterbourne Monkton "goddess" is weird. I don't know of anything like her anywhere else.

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

Here on Saremaa we have a carving very similar to the one in the 1st picture. It is on the one of the columns of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Karma built in 1267. The information available about the church says that it is St Paul and that when the sword points up - it is Paul the Warrior of Faith and when the sword is pointing down it reminds us of his martyrdom. As a citizen of Rome he was not crucified but put to death by sword

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's interesting.

This figure is clearly some sort of holy person but there just aren't enough attributes to make a specific identification.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I've been to St. James in Avebury and was also struck by the figure on the font. The crozier is, of course, indicative of at least a bishop, isn't it? I love the arches carved at the base of the font.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've been peering at it again. Yes, that's definitely a crozier, so- you're right: he must definitely be a bishop.