Ram Headed Serpent
In Celtic myth the Ram Headed Serpent is most often combined with images of Cerrunos. Many archaeologists find that the symbology is tied to masculine fertility, the otherworld, and most importantly regeneration/reincarnation. The influence has been connected by some to Dionysis. There are also some reputes of the beast being born of a magic egg as a result of interlacing snakes.
In this work I have tried to give the beast its own independent identity, power, and mystic tones. The canvas is 22 x 30 inches, and clearly only a sketch is shown above. I threw some details up at the bottom of the screen.
I was requested to do a couple of dragons. So I am combining the effort with the Celtic art series I am working on. I chose the ram headed serpent and Peists. I worked hard at finding depictions of the Ram Headed Serpent by itself in art.
I like to study ancient artifacts when churning up inspiration for an artwork. Most of what I have found of the beast independent of Cerrunos was in Scotland. I really enjoyed reading book “Animals in Celtic Life and Myth” by Miranda J. Green as part of this research.
After that, I studied an assortment of natural species, that I felt would be useful to rendering the beast. For this art piece I used the Horn Viper, Anaconda, Dewy Devil, Cobra, Wild Goats from the UK, and German ram. I have to say thanks to Tony for sending me some pictures of goats from Scotland.
I combined the geometrical features of the Rams and an anaconda to get the face you see. It worked out so well in giving a very mystical effect. So far people enjoy, though are a little taken back by how the eyes follow you around.
Currently in the painting he is in a summer field near the edge of the foothills of the mountains. Though I am contemplating darkening it all up. We shall see what the beast demands as it is birthed.
