Friday, February 12, 2010

Snakes

Ornate front door handle, Medusa head with snakes, LivornoFrom the Gorgona island to the Gorgon Medusa, with snakes, as a doorway knob in “Via Cairoli”.Snake bas-relief, Montenero, LivornoAnother snake is circling a couple of hands in a symbol on a wall of the Sanctuary of Montenero.Ornate front door handle, LivornoAnother knob, with a snake eating its tail (known as Ouroboros), in “Via Indipendenza”.

24 comments:

Unknown said...

Snakes are an interesting motif! I like collecting photos in groups like that and I like seeing others do it to!

Lowell said...

Hmmm...what's with the snakes? These are all fascinating but I don't quite understand the connection - does the snake have some particular meaning to people in Livorno or do they refer to some ancient myth?

brattcat said...

It's easy to get distracted by the theme here, VP, but I feel the need to say that these backgrounds are as captivating as the medallions.

Luis Gomez said...

These are great shots and as brattcat I was captivated not only by the snakes but the image as a whole. Great shots.

Gunn said...

Beautiful details!
Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice weekend!

Dina said...

That first door really looks like it would ward off evil.
Thanks for the links. I learn a lot of mythology from your blog.

Babzy.B said...

Great serie, i love old doors and knobs,never seen them with snakes here !

joo said...

It's really fascinating motif! The knob in the last photo is terrific!

cieldequimper said...

I don't mind spiders but snakes... I'd have a hard time pushing those doors...

Saretta said...

What does the symbology tell us? Is there a special connection with Livorno?

Wolynski said...

The top photo is stunning. You have a lot of snakes in Livorno, other than metal ones?

Hilda said...

Gosh, so many snakes. But such gorgeous pieces!

Small City Scenes said...

Fascinating. I looked up the symbolism of snakes and they mean so many different things to so many different cultures. Some good, some bad. So I won't second guess what these mean. do you know?

Each one has it's own beauty. Neat subject. MB

Deden said...

Indeed it has a certain meaning for the user, or the artist who design it. and may be because of the snake's shape that easily to be fitted in around frame like medallion. Great picture, it was really new to me.

Lois said...

I hate snakes, but these are lovely! I think my favorite is the one in the middle.

Halcyon said...

These are pretty good-looking snakes. I guess everything looks nicer in Italy!

Rob Siemann said...

The first picture reminds me of one of my old haunts, il palazzo degli diamanti, Ferrara.

Stefan Jansson said...

Interesting. I like the second one with the hands.

crocrodyl said...

So unusual! Great and interesting details!

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

OH! I really like these snake symbols! Cool captures.

I sometimes visualize myself as Medusa.

PJ said...

I love to see this kind of artwork and it's also a very nice series of photos as well, VP.

Andreea said...

Inventive details. I like the second one best, but all of them are beautiful.

Unknown said...

Snakes allways look so photogenic in architecture and details. Great 'trio'!

Tash said...

love the graphic quality of the 1st, and the rich wood & unusual snake in the 3rd.