Lion statue gets its claws into you
Have you ever been inside Cambuskenneth Abbey tower? Not the ground floor, the upper levels? These remain closed and are only rarely opened. I do it once a year and one of highlights of the visit is this gruesome, if damaged, lion.
Look again, you can see the mane and the big giant paws, the face and teeth are broken off round the rear and the haunches and tail are clearly visible. It has certainly been carved by someone who has never seen a lion.
The best bit about it though is the tiny wee human head, grasped between those ferocious piercing claws. Those eyes look like they are about to pop out from the crushing pressure of the paws.
Given the relative proportions this would have had to be an absolutely massive monstrous lion. It would also have been painted very bright colours.
The head in question represents a human soul and the lion death. It’s fairly common across Europe and has its origins in Roman times. It’s either some kind of gargoyle or perhaps an element of a larger tomb.
Certainly, the abbey had some very elaborate tombs and had been reendowed by James IV as a suitable setting for his father’s tomb (James III), following his death at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488.
James was racked by guilt through his life regarding his role in his dad’s death and took to wearing an iron belt as penance, this would have been extremely uncomfortable and was designed to scar and mortify the king’s flesh. It was James’ intention to be buried with his dad, although of course he fell at Flodden in 1513 and his body was never recovered.
I think he commissioned the lion carving, but what did he think when he gazed at those terrible claws … was he terrified that he would be dragged to hell?