Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Dancing Goddess


This very large ceramic figure inset into a brick building dances high above the intersection of Main and Michigan in Three Rivers. The building is now a church, although the image suggests that the building was formerly something else - but what? She carries the caduceus (snakes on a stick with wings thingy) in her left hand, like Hermes, messenger of the Greek gods. In her right hand a torch, perhaps symbolizing hope, is held up high. The caduceus is often seen as a symbol of something medical as well as a symbol of a messenger. Symbolic messages like this were quite common a hundred years ago, and everyone apparently recognized what they meant; but it's lost on me today.

2 comments:

Sue said...

I was hoping someone would have the answer for you, I'll have to check back. If only she could talk.

Sue

Three Rivers, Michigan said...

No, everyone is still puzzled....