Nexus - 1104 - New Times Magazine-pages

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JUNE — JULY 2004 @ REVIEWS THE RED-HAIRED GIRL FROM THE its features of mountains, caves, lakes, glens, Neil Mortimer (a printer by trade and editor BOG: The Landscape of Celtic Myth cairns, wells, bogs, and ancient construc- of 3rd Stone magazine) features a collection and Spirit tions like Newgrange—a pre-Celtic solstice- of engravings from these books, and they by Patricia Monaghan aligned "suncatcher" which is her "spiritual record important archaeological details that New World Library, CA, USA, 2004 touchstone". We're also given cause to don't exist today. They include ground ISBN 1-57731 -458-1 (290pp pb) reflect on modern and historical events in plans and entire landscapes highlighting the light of the power of nature. sites as they were in his day (with a little Availability: New World Library, http://www.newworldlibrary.com laskan-born Patricia Monaghan first went in search of her Irish roots in the This is a particularly special read for those _fudging on his part for some temple/dragon (including myself) of Irish descent who may _ line areas) and, in some cases, how they may never have the chance to walk in the land of _ have looked in antiquity. a their ancestors and their ancestors’ deities. Before the 18th century, the general belief soil bes people over thes, While mo ejand (Visit the author's website at http://www. was that the Romans were responsible for ten several books on Celtic and Irish spiritu- patriciamonaghan.com for a sneak peak.) the megalithic sites and numerous barrows al traditions, and in fact teaches literature gtd around te Jane Stone BY the une and environment at DePaul University's STUKELEY ILLUSTRATED tu na ey published his stonehenge an School for New Learning in Chicago, this compiled by Neil Mortimer Avebury books, his interest in druidism as a book is a record of and reflection on her Green Magic Publishing, UK, 2003 precursor to Christianity had grown and he experiences in various counties the length ISBN 0-95429-633-8 (135pp tpb) mistakenly attributed much of the megalithic and breadth of Ireland over the decades. Availability: Green Magic website, ae to tne aes an consequently prompted a revival of druidism. Monaghan has weaved a rich tapestry in http://www.greenmagicpublishing.com Stukeley's meticulous draucht: . this spiritual travelogue through the land of he English antiquarian William Stukeley Vs the exam es presened here i Ip, as her ancestors and of the Irish bards and (1687-1765) is credited as being one of rar tion fi pies pr ti ted i > sient poets—her favourite being W. B. Yeats. the first to adopt a fieldwork approach that Inspiration for anyone interestec in ancien! Everywhere she goes she explores the histo- _led to the foundation of modern scientific British megalithic sites and landscapes. ry, myths, fairy lore, poetry, landscapes, pet- archaeology. An expert draughtsman as roglyphs, menhirs, ancient names and rituals _ well as a medical doctor, freemason, Royal and hears the stories of her relatives and Society fellow and later a pastor obsessed locals along the way. Ireland is the land of with druidic heritage, Stukeley toured the goddesses, and even the name Eire derives English countryside between the years 1710 from the goddess Eriu, one of the three god- —_ and 1725, visiting ancient Roman and medi- desses who ruled before the Celts arrived aeval sites including churches, cathedrals around 400 BC and decided to adopt her. and natural landmarks, and recording the The triple goddess theme is strong in details in his /tinerarium Curiosum, first ancient Irish myth, but the most powerful published in 1724 and then in 1776 as an representation is in the form of the Hag—the —_ expanded edition (the examples published Cailleach, symbolised in the bedrock of the here are taken from this edition). Western cliffs, whose worship may go back It wasn't until 1719 that Stukeley first saw at least 6,000 years or even as far as the first the megalithic sites of Stonehenge and settlement around 7000 BC. With Avebury, and not until 1740 and 1743 that Monaghan, our imagination, vision and feel- his two famous books on these sites were ings are transported into the sacred land with _ published. Stukeley Illustrated, compiled by its features of mountains, caves, lakes, glens, cairns, wells, bogs, and ancient construc- tions like Newgrange—a pre-Celtic solstice- aligned "suncatcher" which is her "spiritual touchstone". We're also given cause to reflect on modern and historical events in light of the power of nature. This is a particularly special read for those (including myself) of Irish descent who may never have the chance to walk in the land of their ancestors and their ancestors' deities. (Visit the author's website at http://www. patriciamonaghan.com for a sneak peak.) Neil Mortimer (a printer by trade and editor of 3rd Stone magazine) features a collection of engravings from these books, and they record important archaeological details that don't exist today. They include ground plans and entire landscapes highlighting the sites as they were in his day (with a little fudging on his part for some temple/dragon line areas) and, in some cases, how they may have looked in antiquity. Before the 18th century, the general belief was that the Romans were responsible for the megalithic sites and numerous barrows dotted around the landscape. By the time Stukeley published his Stonehenge and Avebury books, his interest in druidism as a precursor to Christianity had grown and he mistakenly attributed much of the megalithic influence to the Druids and consequently prompted a revival of druidism. Stukeley's meticulous draughtsmanship, as seen in the examples presented here, is an inspiration for anyone interested in ancient British megalithic sites and landscapes. NEXUS + 67 www.nexusmagazine.com