Grant, thank you for the compliment. It is just that I am enjoying research more than ever before.
From what I recall of my Greek history (I just looked it up a minute ago
) the reason HMS Medea has a woman as the figure head is the name. The name is from Greek mythology where Medea was the sorceress and enchantress who helped Jason obtain the Golden Fleece. It seems that if the name of the ship has no significance a lion was often used, but not always. It was certainly the predominant figure head for British ships for decades. Peter Goodwin gives a full page of history on figure heads on page 205 of The Construction and Fitting of the English Man of War. In short, prior to 1727 figures other than lions was limited to First Rates. Starting in 1727 restrictions were moderated in that any size ship could have a figure head suited to its name. Crowned lions were still predominant. By 1796 figureheads were abolished on new ships due to costs and busts, half figures, or scrolls were the only things allowed. Gilding figureheads ended about 1760 when painting them became the norm as it was more protective than gilding and less expensive.
For Enterprise 1774, the Joseph Marshall painting of 1777 shows what appears to be Perseus carrying the head of Medusa.
Allan
From what I recall of my Greek history (I just looked it up a minute ago
) the reason HMS Medea has a woman as the figure head is the name. The name is from Greek mythology where Medea was the sorceress and enchantress who helped Jason obtain the Golden Fleece. It seems that if the name of the ship has no significance a lion was often used, but not always. It was certainly the predominant figure head for British ships for decades. Peter Goodwin gives a full page of history on figure heads on page 205 of The Construction and Fitting of the English Man of War. In short, prior to 1727 figures other than lions was limited to First Rates. Starting in 1727 restrictions were moderated in that any size ship could have a figure head suited to its name. Crowned lions were still predominant. By 1796 figureheads were abolished on new ships due to costs and busts, half figures, or scrolls were the only things allowed. Gilding figureheads ended about 1760 when painting them became the norm as it was more protective than gilding and less expensive.For Enterprise 1774, the Joseph Marshall painting of 1777 shows what appears to be Perseus carrying the head of Medusa.
Allan
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