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[GreekIslandGirl]

The Acanthus plant leaf has been of interest, to me, since it's found on Corinthian Columns, which adorned Classical Greek Temples. Places of Pagan Worship.

https://www.britannica.com/technology/Corinthian-order

Recently, someone was telling me about the 'Green Man' symbols found in some very old Catholic churches that remained after the destruction caused by King Henry VIII. I looked this up and found that these are Pagan symbols that also use the Acanthus leaf.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Man

This led me to the 'Seven Green Men' found on an Orthodox Church in Nicosia:



Does anyone have any thoughts on this or can add any further information?

I'd be interested to hear.

[Get Real!]

Over the millenniums Man has been inspired by a vast array of things; most of which were things Man feared and/or couldn’t understand. I suspect the "Green Man" you mention comes from the old belief/legend that forests (trees) come to life at night to devour passerby’s etc. Of course, in reality bandits were the only danger lurking in forests of the past, but Man feared the unknown regardless.

These days interest in the "Green Man" is almost non existent and has been largely replaced by a greater interest in “little green men” like this one here…

little-green-men.jpg

[Sotos]

The Corinthian style was adopted by the Romans so it makes sense that it was later used in churches. I guess the architects of the churches did not consider these "Green Men" as part of anything pagan, but just ornaments... or maybe they gave a new meaning to a preexisting design element. There are many things in Christianity which are based on a preexisting traditions which were given a new meaning.

[GreekIslandGirl]

The Corinthian style was adopted by the Romans so it makes sense that it was later used in churches. I guess the architects of the churches did not consider these "Green Men" as part of anything pagan, but just ornaments... or maybe they gave a new meaning to a preexisting design element. There are many things in Christianity which are based on a preexisting traditions which were given a new meaning.

There's a deep tradition of using symbols because literacy levels were low or non-existent going back far enough. A lot of what we consider now to be purely ornamental had great meaning back then. It's interesting that the Orthodox churches and the Catholic churches both retain this pagan symbol of the Green Man which I think now deserves to be explained with the older occurrence in Corinthian columns (attached to pagan temples). Both Churches having a crucifix, we can understand. But why this Green Man? And why seven in St Nicholas, Nicosia?

[Pyrpolizer]

There's a deep tradition of using symbols because literacy levels were low or non-existent going back far enough. A lot of what we consider now to be purely ornamental had great meaning back then. It's interesting that the Orthodox churches and the Catholic churches both retain this pagan symbol of the Green Man which I think now deserves to be explained with the older occurrence in Corinthian columns (attached to pagan temples). Both Churches having a crucifix, we can understand. But why this Green Man? And why seven in St Nicholas, Nicosia?

We know that this building was expanded and rebuilt many times
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedesten,_Nicosia

This is my guess:
the current building should date back to the middle ages, at the period when the Masons were getting organized.
Many buildings and churches of that period (even modern churches) hide Masonic symbols everywhere.
Pagan symbols are a part of the Masonic "culture".
So imo the architect who did that latest expansion should have been a Mason.
He placed them there as part of his own "religious" belief, nobody questioned them, and voila.

No way Chrysostomos would permit such a thing today

[Paphitis]

Oh of course. It had to be The Free Masons and the new World Order!

[Pyrpolizer]

Oh of course. It had to be The Free Masons and the new World Order!

What's your guess Genius?
anything fancy about the Aussies.... again?

NB. the Masons have nothing to do with NWO

And btw If I were so blindfolded like you I would never be proposed to become one.

[Sotos]

The Corinthian style was adopted by the Romans so it makes sense that it was later used in churches. I guess the architects of the churches did not consider these "Green Men" as part of anything pagan, but just ornaments... or maybe they gave a new meaning to a preexisting design element. There are many things in Christianity which are based on a preexisting traditions which were given a new meaning.

There's a deep tradition of using symbols because literacy levels were low or non-existent going back far enough. A lot of what we consider now to be purely ornamental had great meaning back then. It's interesting that the Orthodox churches and the Catholic churches both retain this pagan symbol of the Green Man which I think now deserves to be explained with the older occurrence in Corinthian columns (attached to pagan temples). Both Churches having a crucifix, we can understand. But why this Green Man? And why seven in St Nicholas, Nicosia?

Seven is a holy number in Christianity along with 3 and 12, so that is an explanation for the number.

[kurupetos]

Oh of course. It had to be The Free Masons and the new World Order!

I hope they will pay you forever, little koala.

[kurupetos]

Oh of course. It had to be The Free Masons and the new World Order!

What's your guess Genius?
anything fancy about the Aussies.... again?

NB. the Masons have nothing to do with NWO

And btw If I were so blindfolded like you I would never be proposed to become one.

They do if they are "free". Ironic?