This week's PhotoHunt theme is "scary"
This stone face is in Venice on the church of Santa Maria Formosa, over the entrance to the bell tower. It’s meant to be scary although these days, most people just find it funky and interesting.
But back in the Middle Ages, people believed that church bell towers were particularly vulnerable to invasion by evil spirits (maybe because the towers were often getting struck by lightning or falling down). So a tradition began of putting some kind of protective sculptural image on the towers.
Some bell towers have benevolent images like saints or angels, but others, like this one, have grotesque images designed to frighten the demons away.
In the photo on the left, you can see it over the door. On the right, the beautiful tower that it’s been protecting for over 300 years.
Happy weekend and have a nice Halloween next week!
Comments (49)
Great choices for the theme. I love the stonework and yes pretty scary.
That's great that you saw JT in Chapel Hill (I read your post). I would have liked to have made it to that concert but it was really nice seeing him outside on Moore Square in Raleigh. His voice really does get better and better which is remarkable.
Posted by Carver | October 24, 2008 12:33 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 12:33
Now that is one scary face!
Posted by expatraveler | October 24, 2008 12:35 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 12:35
Oh my this is the first time I see a church building using scary faces to frighten demons..
But though I can't find a logic behind it.
Posted by DanielCtw | October 24, 2008 12:38 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 12:38
Very good take on the theme. Happy hunting.
Posted by Photo Cache | October 24, 2008 12:53 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 12:53
It sure scares me!!!!
Posted by Mar | October 24, 2008 1:15 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 13:15
Annie, that is scary -- yikes! Great photos!
Posted by sandrac | October 24, 2008 1:15 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 13:15
That's a scary face. I'm surprised it is allowd on a church.
Have a happy weekend!
Posted by eastcoastlife | October 24, 2008 1:31 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 13:31
Scary, but like you say kinda funky too! :) Have a great weekend!
Posted by Sue | October 24, 2008 3:11 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 15:11
Definitely one scary face!
Posted by Leslie | October 24, 2008 3:27 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 15:27
Great choice. Me I think Mr Gargoyle is a cutie! Happy weekend
Posted by jams O'Donnell | October 24, 2008 3:50 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 15:50
Oh wow - that is a scary face!!
Happy Weekend.
Posted by Pat | October 24, 2008 4:01 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 16:01
Campo Santa Maria Formosa is my favorite campo as I stayed at the convent next to it three times - '05, '06 and '07.
Posted by Leslie | October 24, 2008 4:16 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 16:16
Great gargoyle, although he looks more silly than scary to me :)
PS: I'm hosting a giveaway on my review site
http://bonggafinds.blogspot.com
...so come and join!
Posted by bonggamom | October 24, 2008 4:55 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 16:55
That is scary looking!
Posted by Blur Mommy | October 24, 2008 7:15 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 19:15
Been to Venice twice. Fabulous place! I am dying to take my daughter there one day!
Lovely shot!
Posted by SabineM | October 24, 2008 8:05 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 20:05
Happy Hunting!!!
Posted by heartbeats | October 24, 2008 8:17 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 20:17
That really looks scary! Nice photos.
Posted by sassy mom | October 24, 2008 9:40 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 21:40
Hi Annie, great theme photo selection! Scary face is pretty effective if it's worked for 300 years . . . :)
Happy weekend too!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | October 24, 2008 9:48 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 21:48
I find it pretty interesting to see that face on the wall of a church.
Posted by napaboaniya | October 24, 2008 10:17 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 22:17
He is still kinda scary, with that big boil over his eye.
Posted by Angela at mommy bytes | October 24, 2008 11:29 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 23:29
Woah, what a grotesque piece of sculpture!
Posted by YTSL | October 24, 2008 11:54 PM
Posted on October 24, 2008 23:54
Ah! I would have been disappointed if I didn't see something gothic and Scary here! Great pix for the theme! Stop by if you get the chance -
http://flamingofotos.blogspot.com
Posted by RJ Flamingo | October 25, 2008 12:08 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 00:08
Oh no i can't get inside because I am scared....TC
Posted by gen/entryhere | October 25, 2008 12:39 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 00:39
What a scary face for a church!
Posted by Barbara H. | October 25, 2008 1:03 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 01:03
Interesting, I surely would love exploring that church :D
Posted by julie | October 25, 2008 5:26 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 05:26
I surely got scared staring at it. I wonder how scarier it can get in real life.
Posted by Mai | October 25, 2008 6:56 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 06:56
really scary for a place like that,might scare the people away.nice entry.mine is up here
Posted by AniqueAnik | October 25, 2008 7:30 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 07:30
oh no! it's creepy!
happy weekend...
Posted by caryl | October 25, 2008 7:35 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 07:35
Great work, Annie!
Posted by david mcmahon | October 25, 2008 10:14 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 10:14
Good choice for the theme and a good little history lesson.
It is interesting that one can find gargoyles on many older buildings here in the US. I've seen them most often on public buildings like courthouses rather than churches. They are often small and placed high on the eaves or steeples. Many are so high that most people do not notice them and have no idea that they are there. I presume that most were an architectural decoration meant to give the building an older, more classic look.
Baker
(Thanks for stopping by - hope you had a good night's sleep, lol)
Posted by BakerWatson | October 25, 2008 11:08 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 11:08
Great choice... though, I don't know if I'd want to go into a church that had this on the building...Hope you have a good weekend!
Posted by ann | October 25, 2008 11:39 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 11:39
Oh my that is a scary looking face.
I know during the time period that designs such as this were popular on Churches and also other public buildings.
But I have always wondered why they used such scary looking things as part of the design especially for their churches.
Great picture and also fabulous for the theme.
I did fire.
http://shinade.blogspot.com/2008/10/photohunt-4-blaze.html
I do so hope you can drop by.
I waited and waited for the post to come up this morning and now I am exhausted.
So I am making my way around sort of in the dark here.
Happy week end:-)
Posted by Shinade | October 25, 2008 11:45 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 11:45
GREAT post Annie! I'd be afraid to walk through that entry!
Posted by Deborah | October 25, 2008 11:46 AM
Posted on October 25, 2008 11:46
Great photo! Why Christians ever thought scary faces would frighten demons is beyond me... lol
I hope you have time to come see my scary photos, and leave your link, too. http://newyorktraveler.net/photo-hunters-scary/
Posted by Mrs. Mecomber | October 25, 2008 12:30 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 12:30
Wow, that is interestingly scary,lol :)
Posted by The Social Frog | October 25, 2008 12:47 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 12:47
That is quite scary although most of these things are so high up fortunately the regular congregation need not be scared. Have a good weekend.
Posted by jmb | October 25, 2008 1:06 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 13:06
How very interesting...and yes...scary!! Thanks for choosing to share this one.
Posted by June | October 25, 2008 1:11 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 13:11
My dh wants to put stuff like that up around the house.
Posted by Alice Audrey | October 25, 2008 1:28 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 13:28
Great photo!
Posted by Cindy Ruth | October 25, 2008 3:46 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 15:46
I am really enjoying all the different takes on scary. That scary thing looks like a former nasty boss of mine. Thank you for visiting my scary lawn sign post..
Posted by Michelle | October 25, 2008 4:57 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 16:57
Hello, Have a nice week ahead!!
Posted by Ellen | October 25, 2008 10:43 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 22:43
Hi Annie,
Sorry so late commenting. I love your choices! I always wondered why these scary type faces are above some of the doorways in Venice.
Posted by girasoli | October 25, 2008 11:48 PM
Posted on October 25, 2008 23:48
That is a great face. Perfect for this week's theme.
Posted by Marta | October 26, 2008 12:21 AM
Posted on October 26, 2008 00:21
that IS scary!
Posted by inyang | October 26, 2008 3:14 AM
Posted on October 26, 2008 03:14
if this isnt scary i dont know wat is :)
Posted by bengbeng | October 26, 2008 10:27 AM
Posted on October 26, 2008 10:27
Oh, truly scary and wonderful! And still doing a great job after all of these years.
Posted by me ann my camera | October 27, 2008 5:09 AM
Posted on October 27, 2008 05:09
Very beautiful photos. Thanks for stopping by.
Posted by Brine Queen | October 27, 2008 12:04 PM
Posted on October 27, 2008 12:04
How grotesque! Am gonna run away now...(hey I'm not a demon hah!)
Posted by mama meji | October 27, 2008 11:48 PM
Posted on October 27, 2008 23:48
scary? lol you people must get scared by your own shadow. the face is hilarious, not scary at all. i bet the guy who carved it had a great sense of humor.
Posted by malcolm | November 2, 2009 6:23 PM
Posted on November 2, 2009 18:23