The Green Man is a powerful folk symbol embodying the masculine force of nature, fertility, and the turning of the seasons. He is traditionally portrayed as a face formed from foliage, with vines and leaves flowing from his mouth. Often honored as a manifestation of the Oak King, his presence echoes through myth and legend, including the Arthurian tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
There is not a specific “green woman” archetype, but there are other female symbols paired with the lore of the Green Man such as the glaistig , a ghost from Scottish mythology also known as the Green Maiden. She has many forms, including a beautiful woman with the hooves of a goat, or a creature that is half woman/half goat. She is considered a benevolent being and is associated with the Fae.
The Sheela na Gig is also considered a counterpart of the Green Man. Her visage Is an often-grotesque carving of a naked woman displaying an exaggerated vulva. Both Sheela na gig and the Green Man are often found carved on medieval churches and castles in Ireland, Britain, and parts of Europe. Dating from around the 12th century, these figures are commonly associated with themes of fertility, protection, and the hag or crone phase of womanhood.