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Effigy
 
 
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An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture
Sculpture

Sculpture is Three-dimensional space artwork created by shaping or combining hard and or plastic material, sound, and or text and or light, commonly Stone sculpture , metal, glass, or wood....
.

The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monument
Church monument

A church monument is an architecture or sculpture memorial to a death person or persons, located within a Christian church . It can take various forms, from a simple Commemorative plaque to a large and elaborate structure which may include an effigy of the deceased person and other figures of familial or symbolic nature....
s. These most often lie supine
Supine position

The supine position is a position of the human body; lying down with the face up, as opposed to the prone position, which is face down. When used in surgical procedures, it allows access to the peritoneal, thoracic and pericardium regions; as well as the head, neck and extremities....
 with hands together in prayer, but may also be recumbent, kneeling in prayer or even standing. Effigies may also be (half) demi-figures and the term is occasionally used to refer to a bust
Bust (sculpture)

A bust is a sculpture or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders....
, for example: "the coin bears an effigy of Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery....
".

A different type of effigy is used in some religious rituals to represent an undesired person or spirit.






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An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture
Sculpture

Sculpture is Three-dimensional space artwork created by shaping or combining hard and or plastic material, sound, and or text and or light, commonly Stone sculpture , metal, glass, or wood....
.

The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monument
Church monument

A church monument is an architecture or sculpture memorial to a death person or persons, located within a Christian church . It can take various forms, from a simple Commemorative plaque to a large and elaborate structure which may include an effigy of the deceased person and other figures of familial or symbolic nature....
s. These most often lie supine
Supine position

The supine position is a position of the human body; lying down with the face up, as opposed to the prone position, which is face down. When used in surgical procedures, it allows access to the peritoneal, thoracic and pericardium regions; as well as the head, neck and extremities....
 with hands together in prayer, but may also be recumbent, kneeling in prayer or even standing. Effigies may also be (half) demi-figures and the term is occasionally used to refer to a bust
Bust (sculpture)

A bust is a sculpture or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders....
, for example: "the coin bears an effigy of Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery....
".

A different type of effigy is used in some religious rituals to represent an undesired person or spirit. The effigy is burned as a sign of the participants' shared intent to banish the represented element from their lives. The best known British
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 example is the burning of an effigy made of straw and/or old clothing depicting the 17th century Catholic conspirator, Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes or Guido Fawkes was a member of a group of Roman Catholic restorationists from England that planned the Gunpowder Plot. The plot's aim was to displace Protestant rule by blowing up the Houses of Parliament while King James I of England and the entire Protestant and even most of the Catholic aristocracy and nobility were i...
.

Political effigies serve a broadly similar purpose on political demonstrations
Demonstration (people)

A demonstration is a form of nonviolent action by groups of people in favor of a political or other cause, normally consisting of walking in a march and a meeting to hear speakers....
 or annual community rituals such as that held in Lewes
Lewes

Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and gives its name to the Local government district in which it lies. The settlement has a long history as a bridging point and as a market town, and is today an important communications hub, and tourist-orientated town....
, on the south coast of England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
. In Lewes, models of important or unpopular figures in current affairs are burned on bonfire night
Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night can refer to a number of occasions:* Guy Fawkes Night, celebrated on 5 November in the United Kingdom* St. John's Eve, celebrated on 23 June in Ireland...
, alongside an effigy of the Pope
Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005....
. The unpopular or political figures are part of tableaux and are not classed as effigies.

See also

  • Death mask
    Death mask

    In Western cultures a death mask is a wax or plaster cast made of a person's face following death. Death masks may be mementos of the dead, or be used for creation of portraits....
  • Poppet
    Poppet

    The word poppet is an older spelling of puppet, from the Middle English popet, meaning a small child or doll. In British Dialect it continues to hold this meaning....


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