'The Braunston Goddess': grotesque stone sculpture of a naked female figure placed beside door of the W tower of All Saints Church, Braunston, England
'The Braunston Goddess': grotesque stone sculpture of a naked female figure placed beside the door of the west tower of All Saints Church, Braunston, Leicestershire, England, UK. The stone was found c. 1920 during renovations, being used face down as a step into the church. It is likely the Medieval gargoyle was hidden or re-purposed in 1728-29 when the C14th Perpendicular tower was completely rebuilt using the original materials. Theories abound: an original Christian gargoyle or type of Sheela-na-gig ('Julia of the breasts') made to scare the Devil, warn against the sins of lust etc & turn away evil, or a pre-Christian goddess statue or fertility figure re-cut to project horizontally from high up on the church tower. In November 1995 four decimal pennies had been placed as offerings on the figure's head.
Size: 3752px × 4984px
Location: All Saints Church, Cedar Street, Braunston-in-Rutland, Oakham, Leicestershire, England, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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