Green Man

The green man is a motif in the art of the early Middle Ages, a sculpture, drawing or other image of a humanoid face surrounded by leaves or as if made of them. Branches or vines may grow into the nose, mouth, nostrils, or other parts of the face, and these shoots may bear flowers or fruits. The "green man" motif has many variations. Found in many cultures around the world, the green man is often identified with a vegetative nature deity that has appeared in different cultures over the centuries. It is primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, signifying the start of another cycle of plant growth every spring. Some scholars believe that the mythological image of the green man developed independently in separate traditions of ancient cultures and turned into a wide range of examples found throughout history in different places on the globe.