I stopped today at Southwark’s (Anglican) Cathedral, a splendid building I hope will be soon… well… you know.
The tomb of John Gower is here, which would make the place worth a visit all by itself.
There is a memorial to Shakespeare, since he is lived and worked nearby (The Globe is just a stone’s throw). Over the memorial, is a whimsical window with characters from the Bard’s plays, and allegorical figures of the Seven Ages of Man.
While waiting for a lunchtime organ recital, I had a bite to eat at the “refectory”, a cafeteria with a quiet plaza and view of the Cathedral’s tower.
Later, the Museum of London.
Loading ...
Fr. Z: what is that dish? Looks amazing. I see onions, peppers and cheese.
Last time I was in London (1999) I went across the River Thames to visit the Globe Theatre. I didn’t see the theatre itself, alas; I only stopped at the gift shop, where I bought a cassette tape set of “Romeo and Juliet’ and a cardboard replica of the the Globe (it was for the spiritual director of the Third Order Carmelite group I was with at the time-he asked me to buy it for his young nephew).
And I’m curious as to what that dish is in the photo too! The stuff on the left side looks like chicken….
Hmmm, looks like a lentil salad and … crab cakes? or some sort of cheesy potato cakes? Looks tasty!
I have a question about the tomb of John Gower and many others similar to it. Why are they many times depicted as leaning their heads in an odd manner against what they’re lying on ? It only makes me think, most naturally, that it looks really uncomfortable. I know they’re dead, but I still think that every time I see it that way. Is there some significance to the posture of those “asleep” ?
Yes, what are the yellow things on the plate? Some sort of cheese-coated rissole?
lucy, I have read various explanations of medieval tomb carvings, but I can’t remember much.
From memory lions symbolised bravery (usually for knights), and dogs were faithfulness (usually for wives). Since John Gower was a writer, I suppose books were an obvious choice.
I also remember there were theories about the symbolism of whether the animal was under the feet or the head, and a somewhat fanciful idea that if a knight’s legs were crossed that was a sign that he had been captured on the Crusades (ouch), but I don’t remember that anything was conclusively proved.
All part of the marvellous symbolism in medieval life – basically writing messages that even the illiterate could read. Mind you, if our education system gets much worse we might have to revert to something like that.
When I was living in London I would often make the trip from westminster down to Borough Market. Best fish and chips in London, which I would eat outside of the Cathedral. What a wonderful part of the city!
Lentils – that’s my guess for the dish on the right! On the left…looks like spinach and cheese…?
Now I’m hungry. Haha.
Father Z.,
You wrote
Being a recent convert from the American branch of Anglicanism, I would suggest with Mark 9:29b
;-)
Pax et bonum,
Keith Töpfer
Thank you for the pictures as you travel around – they bring us there. Sights, locales, music, menu and the food, even the people at the blognic. Great fun after fall cleaning in 85 degrees.