| Weather vanes have been capturing the interest | | | | display a cock atop their church, as a reminder of |
| and imagination, of both young and old alike, for | | | | Jesus' prophesy that the cock would not crow, |
| centuries. Watchful roosters overlooking barns, | | | | the morning after The Last Supper. Ever since, it |
| trotting horses topping elegant homes, these | | | | has been traditional for many churches, both in |
| unique little weather devices have a rich history, | | | | Europe and America, to display a cock weather |
| predating the birth of Christ. But how did they | | | | vane. |
| come to be? Who made the first one? Why are | | | | First President, George Washington, |
| they called weather vanes? Join us, as we explore | | | | commemorated the end of the Revolutionary |
| a few fun facts about weather vanes. | | | | War by having a special weather vane |
| The earliest known weather vane dates back to | | | | commissioned for the top of his Mount Vernon |
| the year 48 B.C., where it adorned the Tower of | | | | estate. Created in the likeness of a dove, carrying |
| Winds in Athens. Believed to be more than 4' long, | | | | an olive branch, or a Dove of Peace, this weather |
| this first weather vane was fashioned in the | | | | vane was finished in 1787, by Joseph Rakestraw. |
| likeness of the Greek God, Triton, with the head | | | | Even Thomas Jefferson found an interest in |
| and torso of a man and the body of a fish. Due | | | | weather vanes, supposedly attaching the weather |
| to the fact that the ancient Greeks and | | | | vane, on Monticello, to a pointer inside his house. |
| pre-Christian Romans believed that the wind | | | | This way, he was able to determine the direction |
| carried divine powers, it was not uncommon to | | | | of the wind, without having to leave the comfort |
| see weather vanes created in the likenesses of | | | | of his home. |
| Greek gods, such as Hermes, Mercury and | | | | During the 1800's, common weather vanes |
| Boreas. | | | | depicted popular racing horses, such as George M. |
| Norsemen picked up the idea of the weather | | | | Patchen and Smuggler, their likenesses recreated |
| vane and began making their own around the 9th | | | | from the stylish Currier and Ives prints. The |
| century. Unique, to this day, the Vikings created | | | | artwork of weather vanes has only advanced |
| banner-styled weather vanes and commonly | | | | from there, allowing one's imagination to go wild; |
| placed them on their ships, for navigational | | | | elegant silhouettes, fanciful scrolls and arrows, |
| purposes, as well as their homes. Usually topped | | | | even three-dimensional animal creations. Now |
| by a favored animal figurine, this weather vane | | | | expanding with a plethora of different materials, |
| style can still commonly be found in Norway and | | | | it's a sure bet that whatever one desires in a |
| Sweden. It is also believed that, around this time, | | | | weather vane; if it hasn't been made yet, there is |
| the Pope decreed that all churches in Europe | | | | someone out there ready to give it a whirl. |