The lion is one of those beasts that does an excellent job of brightening up a gatepost.
I don’t know if it’s a peculiarly Scottish or British thing, but certainly in my neck of the woods it’s reasonably common to find gateposts sporting lions on their summits.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. These lions sit atop a couple of gateposts in the village of Bankfoot in Perthshire. This was how they looked just before Christmas, with a bit of festive decoration:
The other day, delightful assistant no.1 and I went for a walk past these same lions. The decoration had changed from Christmas wreaths on the posts to hats of snow on the lions:
A variety of poses and expressions can be seen in gatepost lions, and these particular ones seem to me to be unusually fierce.
It is perhaps a little uncharitable of me, but ever since seeing them with snow on I can’t stop thinking of them as ‘the disgruntled lions’. I think the expression popped into my head when I saw this one with his snow mohican:
His teeth looked especially menacing, with an icicle having formed between his jaws:
So clever of you, Lorna! You see things that others don’t, and you express them in your own charmingly unique fashion. Always entertaining, always delightful.
And you, dear Robin, are always most generous with your kind words and encouragement. Thank you!
We have lions by the drive or doors sometimes here in the U.S. too. I have heard somewhere that it is supposed to designate the head of a family. No idea if that is true.
That sounds highly plausible to me, and I’m delighted to hear that you’re bedecked with lion across the pond, too.
Nice perceptive analysis Lorna. There are many symbolic meanings for a lion in every culture. The most common one being a show of pride and majestic power. I have seen many homes in the US with sculptures of lions in their front yards.
Thanks Aparna, I think power is certainly something one associates with lions. It’s strange though, isn’t it, that they should end up on so many gateposts. Perhaps if you have a lion on your gatepost you feel protected in some way, I think I would. I’m very interested to hear that it’s common in the US as well.
We have a bridge here in Vancouver callled “The Lionsgate Bridge” with 2 lions guarding the entrance. I love your photos. I am sure the lions are in a much better mood when they are not covered in snow and ice!
I looked it up on Google, thank you Darlene! What a lovely bridge and splendid guardian lions. I’m beginning to think someone could plan a world tour of spotting lion statues.
I’d be mightily pissed if I had that pile of snow on my head!
Well precisely!
Brrrr …those lions look cold.
It was an exceptionally cold day. I ran along the road, skipped, jumped, etc. but I was still cold when I got back to the car. Perfect weather for a large cup of tea. And another…
Not so many lions here, more kangaroos and emus!
On gateposts? I’d like to see that.
Surely in your part of the world they should be wildcats… or are they just to small to be gate guards? A pity, because they’re just as ferocious as their African cousins and desparately in need of some good PR.
That’s an idea, wild cats. They are notoriously shy though, unless cornered in which case they’re very ferocious, as you say. They do need a bit of PR, right enough. I think people mistake them for strays sometimes, and because they look wild and dangerous they can be unfairly ostracised.
Hi Lorna, those lions do look particularly festive with those wreaths prior to Christmas. Funny little detail with the iciclesbetween the teeth too. We really are at polar opposite in both geography and weather, from one extreme season to another
We are, Alice, at opposite extremes! It’s quite nice for me to read about your heat though, I must say. I’m sure the lions wouldn’t mind a bit of it too.
Great post thanks Lorna.
Thanks Mark!
They remind me of the lions that were turned into stone in first Narnia book. I wonder if they might come back to life…?
Oh yes, that rings a vague bell. If these ones come back to life I don’t fancy being around when it happens, going by their expressions.