The Ammonite
Posted by: Windsocker
N 53° 27.159 W 006° 09.197
29U E 689017 N 5926399
This Statue is called "The Ammonite"
Waymark Code: WM31GN
Location: Ireland
Date Posted: 01/25/2008
Views: 19
Ammonites are perhaps the most widely known fossil, possessing the typically ribbed spiral-form shell as pictured above. These creatures lived in the seas between 240 - 65 million years ago, when they became extinct along with the dinosaurs.
In medieval Europe, fossilised ammonites were thought to be petrified snakes, and were called "snakestones". They were taken to be evidence for the actions of saints such as St Hilda and St Patrick. Traders would occasionally carve the face of a snake into the empty, wide end of the ammonite fossil and sell them to the public.
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: The Ammonite
Figure Type: Combination of two figure types
Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Niall O' Neill
Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 29/6/2001
Materials used: Bronze,Stone,Copper,Marble
Location: Malahide Marina Village Co Dublin Ireland
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