Dedicated to Researching Rosslyn Chapel, The Knights Templar and Scottish Freemasonry

There is considerable evidence that carvings within medieval churches were painted and indeed some of the carvings within Rosslyn Chapel have recently been painted in an attempt to make them more authentically medieval. Example of such painted carvings are to be found in the crypt or sacristy of Rosslyn Chapel and to go to pages showing these newly painted carvings please click here and click here.
This Green Man within Saint Giles is now fully restored having been painted in gold. This is a very exuberant Green Man the foliage sprouting from its’ mouth being exuberant is, perhaps, another interpretation of the Green Man - plenty.
Immediately below the Green Man are carvings of the Thistle, the national ‘flower’ of Scotland. Below the thistles is an angel holding the seal of Edinburgh. As can be seen all three elements of this symbol are brightly painted as they would have been before the Reformation. A possible interpretation might be - “May Scotland and Edinburgh prosper”. This is reminiscent of “Let Glasgow Flourish”.