9. The “Green Men” Carvings May Have Pagan Origins
Over 100 carvings of so-called “green men” can be found in the carvings at Rosslyn Chapel. While they are not painted green, they are identified as such because they are depicted with vines and leaves emanating from their mouths. The carvings only show their faces, but their faces seem to be part of the foliage that springs forth from them as if the leaf would not exist without them. Green men can be found on other Medieval Christian buildings, but they are particularly dominant at Rosslyn Chapel.
While plant imagery can be found in some illuminated texts of the Bible that date to the Middle Ages, the green men were distinctly pagan symbols. Some believe that they represented the cycles of life, death, and rebirth, common themes in the paganism of the British Isles. These themes can be seen in many of the other carvings, as well, such as those of skeletons. Some might be surprised that a Christian church would have pagan symbols carved into its walls. Explain why those carvings may be there. Indeed, this is one of the mysteries of Rosslyn Chapel. Some have attempted to explain the Christian significance of green men, but the fact that there are other pagan symbols, as well as additional symbols that fall outside of Christendom, cause this to be disputed.