Ammonites (AKA snakestones) are quite common around Whitby in the north of England where folklore has it that they are the remains of snakes turned to stone by St. Hilda, the 7th century abbess of Whitby:
The fact that Whitby snakestones generally do not have a head is supposedly due to a convenient beheading curse issued by another Christian martyr, St Cuthbert. However, to make snakestones more saleable, and to reinforce the legend of their origin, serpents’ heads were sometimes carved onto them, especially in Victorian times. (From a collection of ammonite folklore on the British Natural History Museum’s web site). Via Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society
Comments (0)
Yay me!
Maladies
Melodies
Allergies to dust and grain
Maladies
Remedies
Still these allergies remain
My hand can't touch a guitar string
My fingers just burn and ache
My head intercedes with my bodily needs
And my body won't give it a break
My heart can stand a disaster
My heart can take a disgrace
But my heart is allergic
To the women I love
And it's changing the shape of my face
Allergies
Allergies
Something's living on my skin
Doctor please
Doctor please
Open up it's me again