The two images sculpted on opposite sides of the church altar are well-known symbols in England, known as the Green Man and Sheela na gig respectively. At the movie's premiere, director Alex Garland stated that he had been obsessively trying to work them into a screenplay for the last 15 years. The Green Man is a very old male nature deity or forest spirit, found on both secular and religious buildings all around the world. He is often depicted with a face made from foliage, and although his origins remains unclear, he usually symbolizes rebirth, specifically the seasonal cycle of growth and decay. Sheela na gig (thought to mean 'Julia of the breasts' in Irish) is found as sculptures mainly in Europe (especially Ireland), usually depicting a naked female with exposed breasts and vulva. Theories about her age and function vary: most sculptures date to the 11th century, but some claim that it is of Celtic origin, existing even before Christianity as a symbol for fertility or childbirth, or the representation of a pagan mother goddess. In later times, the symbol may have been used as a religious warning against sinful lust or to ward off evil spirits. Modern views regard the Sheela na gig as a symbol of feminist empowerment (widely used during the 2018 Irish abortion referendum) and body positivity.

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