Dear Lubos,
the 12 snails (as well as 4 dolphins) are part of the tomb of Saint
Sebaldus, buried in the Sebaldus Church at Nuremberg. The shrine was made
out of bronze by P. Vischer and sons during 1489 and 1519. Its total weight
is more than 7 tons and it is about 5 meters high.
http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/month/feb00/month.htm
A close view to a single snail could be found at:
http://www.sebalduskirche.de/index.php?id=132. (text in german only). Every
snail is said to be different.
By the way, the church was the last position of the famous barocque composer
Johann Pachelbel. You may have heard his famous Canon and Gigue before.
As Henk told us, the snail was a well understood symbol of recreation at
that time.
Best regards
Bernd Sahlmann
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lubos R. Kolouch" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 2:06 AM
Subject: Re: Snails used in liturgy?
> Dear CONCH-Lers,
> arising from the discussion of snails and the church, I would have a
> question for the experts. At home in Central Europe, the Czech Republic in
> particular, I conducted research in an old jewish cemetery. To my great
> surprise I found 2 examples of the marine shell Umbonium giganteum
> (TROCHIDAE) at the eastern side of the cemetery. These specimens measured
> 12.75 x 21.65 mm and 13.35 x 21.1 mm, and were ground down to their
> nacreous
> base. Is this a coincidental, unimportant find, or does it have perhaps
> any significance in a church ritual (jewish)?
>
> Concerning the "church" theme, I would like to draw attention to
> http://lrk.host.sk (refer to Pictures), where I have an interesting photo
> of
> HELICIDAE from the cathedral in the German town of Nuremberg. The idea
> behind this sculpture and the use of such snails is equally unclear to me.
> Can anyone comment or state their opinion on the above ?
>
> Thanks,
> Lubosh R. Kolouch
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ezequiel" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 1:50 PM
> Subject: Snails used in liturgy?
>
>
>> Hi all!
>>
>> I have read Franco Fabbro interesting work about how snails may have
>> been
>> used in liturgy during the early christian period. I tried to contact
>> Mr. Fabbro but his mail
>> address doesn't work.
>>
>> See: http:www.freedomdomain.com/religion/fabbro.htm
>>
>> At the moment I am studing a collection of mollusks found in
>> an Early Christian basilica in Northern Greece. Among the land snails
>> the most numerous are helix sp. 52%. Most of the shells were found in
>> a room inside the
>> basilica which has been interpreted as being a workshop.
>>
>> Does anyone think it is plausible to say that these snails could have
>> been
>> used
>> in liturgy? Has anyone of you come upon this subject or have any ideas?
>> I'm just wondering if the idea is not too far fetched.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Ezequiel M. Pinto-Guillaume
>
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