North gate
As northern gate or Teufelstor is called side entrances of medieval churches in Europe, mainly on the British Isles , which usually with pagan motifs are adorned.
meaning
The meaning of these inputs is unclear. Many of these doors are adorned with pagan motifs, such as the forest deity of the Green Man or, particularly in Ireland, the Sheela-na-Gig or horned creatures as the embodiment of pagan nature spirits. One interpretation of these gates is that during the early days of Christianity, members of the forbidden pagan cults only entered the churches through such north gates. For fear of persecution, the adherents of the old faith are said to have taken part in the Christian worship service , but by coming from the north they discreetly distanced themselves from the new Christian teaching. In many old churches you can still find north doors walled up over the centuries.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Alexander Nix , Loreley, afterword, p. 397
- ↑ Alexander Nix, Loreley, epilogue, p. 398
- ↑ Alexander Nix, Loreley, epilogue, p. 398