Ancient Wooden Sculptures of Exeter Cathedral
12th Century Knight & Werewolf
13th Century Royal Lion Passant
13th Century Royal Lion Passant
Likely a depiction of Jordan II. de Estre, this sculpture shows a knight with a Templar's trefoil-decorated helmet, sword, and shield battling an anthropomorphic dog (werewolf) that may symbolize the Déisi of Osraige (Ossory), Ireland. (Image courtesy of misericords.co.uk)
13th Century Royal Lion Passant
13th Century Royal Lion Passant
13th Century Royal Lion Passant
Likely a depiction of Prince Edward of England and future King Edward I., this sculpture shows a pious Christian leader (downward gaze, three part toes tuft, and large ears) as an anthropomorphic lion "passing by", i.e. a heraldic "Lion Passant". (Image courtesy of misericords.co.uk)
13th Century Knight & Demon
Lion versus Dragon (or Gryphon)
Lion versus Dragon (or Gryphon)
Likely the image of Jordan IV. of Exeter, this sculpture shows a knight with a Templar's helmet and sword killing a dog-headed demon with wings and trefoil tail, indicating the enemy's deception, but by whose death created transformation. (Image courtesy of misericords.co.uk)
Lion versus Dragon (or Gryphon)
Lion versus Dragon (or Gryphon)
Lion versus Dragon (or Gryphon)
Likely the image of Reginar family of Flanders (formerly Lothringia), this sculpture of a lion battling a beast with claws, wings, and a serpentine tail in a circle and with a lion's face on either side indicates a family of warriors.
(Image courtesy of misericords.co.uk)
Ancient Wooden Sculptures of Limerick Cathedral
Dog with Beard and Long Tail
Plantagenet Lion vs Dog Gryphon
Dog with Beard and Long Tail
Likely depicting a royal leader of the Dalcassians, a Déisi clan of Roman descent, shown as a dog with a long tail and beard, this sculpture may represent Donal Mor O'Brien, the last King of Thomond (1168 A.D. to 1194 A.D.) and defender of Limerick from the Norman invasion.
(Image courtesy of misericords.co.uk)
Dog-headed Gryphon
Plantagenet Lion vs Dog Gryphon
Dog with Beard and Long Tail
Likely depicting the a descendant of King O'Brien and a deception perceived by the Normans, this sculpture shows a winged gryphon with serpent's tail but the head of a dog in a howling battle cry possibly representing political tension between Normans and Dalcassians (1195 A.D. to 1235 A.D.).
(Image courtesy of misericords.co.uk)
Plantagenet Lion vs Dog Gryphon
Plantagenet Lion vs Dog Gryphon
Plantagenet Lion vs Dog Gryphon
Likely depicting domination by the Reginar family or King Edward I. in 13th Century Ireland, this sculpture shows a lion with a broom-shaped (Plantagenet) tail battling the a dog-headed gryphon (Déisi), in a circular motif that is similar to lion-and-dog sculptures of Exeter Cathedral.
(Image courtesy of misericords.co.uk)