A POEM A DAY - KNOWTH



This is the carving on one of the 17 kerb stones surrounding the Megalithic passage tomb at Knowth in Country Meath, Ireland. The passage tomb was  built over 5000 years ago and the 200 stone carvings represent over a third of all such art work in the whole of Europe. Some stones show the pit and chip marks of a chisel technique and the shapes include spirals, zig zag lines, geometrical shapes and representations of moons. There are various theories about the meaning behind the shapes, ranging from pure art to a deeply spiritual significance. Knowth is one of many passage tomb complexes in this area, many aligned to the equinoxes like Newgrange and Loughcrew which are illuminated with the rising sun at the Winter and Autumn equinoxes (respectively). The kerb stones on the main mound at Knowth, (there are 17 other smaller mounds) can weigh up to 2 tonnes were transported from over 80km away from the site, as were smaller stones of white quartz and granite that are thought to have covered the stone around the entrance to the tomb and now lie where they fell on the ground. They are believed to hold spiritual significance. Despite the rainy day and our inclusion in a tour of visitors (the only way to access the site) Knowth had was both impressive and moving to witness. The stone inscribings put me in touch with an ancient civilisation who were undoubtedly more sophisticated than we can imagine, in this place where they buried and honoured their dead. 



© 2019 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved. 


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