Monday 30 May 2011

Monday Doorways, the Great Gate, Cambridge

 
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Click to enlarge!

The Front Gate of St John's College in Cambridge was completed in 1516.
The carving is of the coat of arms of the Foundress, Lady Margaret Beaufort. The curious beasts on either side are yales, mythical animals having elephants' tails, antelopes' bodies and goats' heads, with horns which can supposedly swivel from back to front!
Above is a statue of St. John the Evangelist: at his feet is an eagle, the traditional symbol of the Saint. He holds a poisoned chalice, with a snake representing the legend that he charmed the poison out in the form of a serpent and then drank safely.


Inspired by a post by Eric Tenin of a Parisian doorway, «Louis» began posting on Mondays photos he had taken of doorways in Paris.To participate click on
Monday Doorways or on the logo in the sidebar.


 
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11 comments:

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Those thatch roof, my mum said it would work in Borneo, rats and mice would make nest there.

Dina said...

Don't you just love old gates?!
Good for you for suggesting to make this a meme, Wil.
I love the picture of your family.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Views through gateways, especially if we can't go through, are always tempting Wil. Lovely photograph.

Kay said...

I enlarged this photo and was captivated by the details in that beautiful doorway. It's amazing!

Arkansas Patti said...

I had never heard of yales. The work on that door is amazing. It is hard to amagine something from the fifteen hundreds. We are such a baby of a country.

Alexa said...

Thanks for visiting, Wil, and thanks for suggesting this meme to "Louis." I love your photo of this beautiful gate—coincidentally, Lady Margaret Beaufort is one of my ancestors!

Indrani said...

Amazing details. Good you highlighted it.

Dianne said...

Amazing doorway - and to think it was constructed way back in 1516 - I'm going to click over to check out "Monday Doorwaysgateddr" what a great idea.

George said...

Thank you for sharing this beautiful doorway with us. The details of the decorations are magnificent.

Vicki Lane said...

Beautiful! I hope, in a future life, to be a student at Oxford or Cambridge.

Louis la Vache said...

Outstanding, Wil!

Louis» thanks you for your contribution to Monday Doorways.