Sheela Na Gig carvings and the symbolism of Sheela Na Gigs

Sheela Na Gigs

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Sheela Na Gig's are quasi-erotic stone carvings of a possible goddess figure ,usually found on Norman churches. They consist of an old woman squatting and pulling apart her vulva a fairly strange thing to find on a church I think you'll agree when you consider the puritanical attitudes of many Christians. The carvings are very old and often do not seem to be part of the church but have been taken from a previous older building (see the weathering on the Church Stretton Sheela as compared to the surrounding masonry). This may have a connection with fact that many churches are built on previous pagan sites (for instance Kilpeck) and may have been incorporated into the building from the previous pagan shrine. Many of the carvings are badly weathered and it is difficult to determine features. This would also seem to indicate an older origin than the host church.

A Sheela Na Gig "Fact" List

Even though the image is overtly sexual the representation is always grotesque, sometimes even comical. They are usually associated with "hags" or "old women". The carvings often incorporate ribs showing on the torso and sometimes facial scaring as well.
They are often associated with female saints. Especially St. Catherine (see the Tugford Sheelas) This is true for Ireland as well as Britain.
The carvings are usually found on Churches usually of Norman origin, but they can also be found on Secular buildings (e.g. above a stable door in Haddon Hall Derbyshire, they can also be found on many castles in Ireland )
Sheela na gigs can be found all over Britain, Ireland and even France and Spain. In fact Images of Lust proposes a Continental origin for them.
There is some evidence however for a celtic or pagan origin. The prevalence of sheelas in Ireland (far more so than anywhere else) suggests either a Celtic origin or that the image is reminiscent of some type of Celtic goddess.

Be sure to check out our Sheela Na Gig Booklist


Distribution of Sheelas in Great Britain
	Kilpeck Church Herefordshire
Church Stretton Shropshire
	Holdgate Church Shropshire
St Catherines Church TugfordShropshire
	All Saints Church Buncton Sussex
Ampney St Peter Church Gloucestershire
	All Saints Church Buckland Buckinghamshire
St. Helens Church Darley Dale Derbyshire
	The Old Stables Haddon Hall Derbyshire
All Saints Church Oaksey Gloucestershire
	The Alderwasley Sheela Derbyshire
All Melbourne Parish Church Derbyshire
	The Llandrindod Sheela Powys Mid Wales
The Rochester Cathedral Sheela Kent
	The Easthorpe Sheela Colchester Essex
The Croft on Tees Sheela Croft on Tees N. Yorkshire
	The Lower Swell Sheela Lower Swell, Cotswolds
The Stanton St Quintin Sheela Stanton St. Quintin Wiltshire