Tuesday 24 November 2015

The Quest for the Three Hares: from Devon myth to medieval China and back


Transport can be arranged. Please get in touch if you're also fascinated by these iconic 3 hares with 2 ears each, but only 3 ears between them - as seen in Buddhist caves at the edge of the Gobi Desert AND in 17 Devon churches...


DEVON RURAL ARCHIVE, SHILSTONE, MODBURY, DEVON PL21 0TW 01548 830832 OFFICE@DRA.UK.NET


 In seventeen Devon churches there are medieval roof bosses showing the intriguing and paradoxical image of three hares sharing only three ears between them, yet each creature having two ears. Amazingly, in seventeen Buddhist caves in China, on the edge of the Gobi desert, the same symbol occurs but dating perhaps 500 - 800 years earlier than the Devon examples. This richly illustrated talk outlines the quest to unravel the origins of this iconic symbol used in all the major religions of the Old World. With colleagues Sue Andrew and Chris Chapman, Tom Greeves has travelled widely across Europe and beyond, collecting information on a design that has intrigued him personally since the 1960s, and which has been responsible for an interesting, enduring but baseless myth in Devon itself.

Dr Tom Greeves is a cultural environmentalist exploring and interpreting the landscape through highly trained eyes. Studying as a prehistorian at Edinburgh University, he obtained a doctorate in history and archaeology at Exeter University, studying the Devon tin industry. Dr Greeves was the first Sites & Monuments Officer for Devon, establishing the county archive of archaeology. He was subsequently the first Archaeologist to Dartmoor National Park Authority, and then worked in London with the environmental arts group Common Ground; having responsibility for the national Parish Maps project before becoming freelance.

Tickets are £5 each.
The price includes tea / coffee and biscuits available from 6.30pm when doors open.


Tickets can be booked in person at the DRA, over the phone or by email and paid for on arrival at the lecture. If tickets are paid for in advance a seat will be reserved for you near the front of the lecture room. Booking is recommended.

If you have booked a ticket for a DRA lecture and are unable to attend please let us know as soon as possible as tickets are in high demand.
For directions please visit the DRA website at
http://www.devonruralarchive.com/Directions.html

 
The DRA is open every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 11am to 3pm (excluding Bank Holidays); there is no need to book and entry is free. If you are visiting us please do remember to enter the site with caution and note the speed limit within the grounds is 5 miles per hour.
Other dates for your diary:
4th February 2016: Devon's Torre Abbey, its rescue and significance
- an illustrated talk by Dr Michael Rhodes, former Curator of Torre Abbey.

2016 programme coming soon!


The DRA offers group visits to Local History Societies and other community organisations. If you would like to bring your group for a day at the archive in 2016 with optional guided tour of Shilstone please contact Abi on 01548 830832.

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