Page 247 - The Grotesque Children's Book

tucked in, or around the waist, or more meanly, wrapped down to the buttocks, we’re
saying they’re idiots and have forgotten today’s lesson or tonight’s groceries. See scarf.

llamasu. Trad., Protective demon with a bull’s body, eagle’s wings and a human head;
sometimes with the body parts of lions; representing the strength of each. Megl., We
didn’t invent llamasu; they go back to the ancient Babylonians, so we have a kinship with
the artists from way back then. They, too, combined animal, bird and humans like we do.
We haven’t seen complete tetramorphs; they seemed to stop at three animals to combine.
We tend to endow many of our llamasu with profiles like Carola, just because that makes
us pant. See overinflated breasts. (The glossary entry, we mean.)

Medici balls. Trad., Red spheres are the symbol for the Medici family. Megl., We’re required
under contract to paint a certain number of Medici balls; I’ve forgotten now how many,
but it’s a lot. The Duke’s going to be very angry when he discovers we didn’t paint as
many as he wanted. See nutmeg grater arms.

Mirror, looking at yourself. Trad., Vanitas; vainglory; narcissism. Megl., We’re in agreement
with this traditional symbolism, but we don’t mean it pejoratively. If you’re pretty, count
your lucky stars and admire away. Those of us who look more like Hephaestus, we’re
envious.

Moon. Trad., Cycles; water; light in the darkness. Megl., Full moons illuminate our darkened
Florence at night, and therefore, you’ll discover that things tend to happen on nights with
a full moon, not because there’s a huge cosmological influence of celestial bodies on our
lives...but merely because on nights of the full moon, we can see. Mark my words; you
look for it: when do important things happen? On nights of a full moon. The opposite is
true: on nights of no moon or sliver-moon, things tend to happen because we can’t see.

mountain. Trad., Christ, Purgatory, Olympus. Megl., Forgive me; I must be secretive here.

nakedness. Trad., Innocence; Garden of Eden; vulnerability; honesty. Megl., Vulgarity;
copulation; voyeurism. See overinflated breasts.

nine. Trad., thrice three signifies the horizon; wisdom, leadership, completion, fulfillment.
Nine sets of nine, or 81, represents completing things for others; reaching out; expanding
one’s own universe; risking one’s own point of view; sharing; kindness; selfishness.
Megl., see symmetry.

nutmeg grater arms. There’s no meaning here. Santi dared me to create a putto who got his
arms stuck in a nutmeg grater. I found that notion hilarious, so I did it. See, the thing is,
Master Allori is so panicked about finishing the ceilings on time, he doesn’t actually look

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