What is 500 years older than the pyramids and 1000 years older than Stonehenge?
We spent a wonderful day visiting Ireland's ancient neolithic civilizations. THese huge burial chambers predate the pyramids of Egypt, have blocks of decorated stone just as big and are aligned with the sun and seasons in a similar way.
Knowth's burial chamber and satellite tombs boast the richest and largest collection of megolithic art in Europe. We were unable to explore the 2 burial chambers except for 1 small section but marvelled at the size and complexity of this structure from this supposedly primitive civilization.
Close by is Newgrange, the best known of the 3 burial mounds. Whilst a little smaller than Knowth, you can go right inside the famous chamber which is lit by the rays of the rising sun for 17 minutes at the winter solstice.
To visit at this time is so popular that places are decided by ballot. We have entered the lottery.
The 3rd site Dowth is totally undeveloped and exceptionally hard to find. We were the only visitors and we walked around the outside of the mound.
While we were in the Boyne Valley, we visited a much later historic site, that of the famous Battle of the Boyne when William 3rd defeated James 2nd for the English crown.
4 comments:
Wow, that sounds like a really good place to visit. I hope you win the lottery. I also hope I win the lotto.
Let me know if you win the lottery and I'll buy a lotto ticket on your behalf. Only in my name. And I'll keep the winnings - I just want your luck!
Clannad have a song called Newgrange. (More Irish music trivia for you)
You need to be careful around those stones. Didn't Claire get sucked through them and end up back in time with the delectable Jamie? (I'm sure you've read those books, Gail...)
Those stones were actually in Scotland where we are now - so I will be careful. Robert climber down inside a souterrain today - wet, muddy and dark.... but he did make it out.
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