A West Highland ‘Sheela-na-gig’ and Its Previous Expressions
Abstract
This article considers two medieval carvings in the Scottish Highland village of Taynuilt, which were moved to the exterior south wall of a church built in 1829, alongside the older, now ruined, building. One figure is a carved head, and was possibly viewed as depicting the original saint of the area. The other is commonly regarded as a sheela-na-gig, but in fact appears to have originally depicted the popular saint of travellers, Saint Christopher, and to have been later repurposed.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Medieval European History and Architecture
Viking Age and Medieval Scandinavia
Medieval Literature and History
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Folklore
- Volume
- 137
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 161–171
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN