Perhaps ,for some, the only rival to Newgrange's famous entrance stone K1 is its opposing counterpart at the back of the mound, K52 . This imagery is clearly divided by a dressed and incised vertical demarkation line splitting the stone into two equal parts. I believe that the glyphs to the right of this line represent scenes that could have been winessed if this stone was the original entrance stone to Newgrange. The drawing below illustrates the meaning of various glyphs that depict what could only be the 3 stars of Orion's belt visible through the roofbox (see my Newgrange article).





The left hand side of the stone is given over to show the imagery for the summer solstice sunset (2 spirals) that on other levels mean owl/serpent divine eyes . The net below this could be the integument of the snake as its skin is designed almost exactly like this, scales of lozenge shapes. Gimbutas believed the divine eyes of the owl was a significator of death and coupled with the snake coil you could add rebirth, regeneration to this interpretation. Certainly this stone faces the setting sun at the Summer solstice when the sun 'dies' on the horizon.

Antropomorphic/Zoomorphic Imagery

As mentioned last page, Gimbutas, sees some animal and human forms depicted in the artifact discoveries such as bird Goddesses,pigs, owls, snakes,hedgehogsand the Earth Goddess as topographical mound design etc. Evidence of specific antropomorphic imagery exists around the world at archaeological ancient complexes. In Central/South America it was the Jaguar,the snake Crotalus Durissmus (a species of rattlesnake), the condor etc. In fact any animal that held



(See Brennan " The Stones of Time" P210 1994)
magical powers of either renewal/regeneration or locomotion/swiftness or stealth or strength seemed to have been given over to strong temple/artifact imagery. It is the snake which I want to draw attention to. Gimbutas regarded the presence of snake imagery as reflecting the life force, symbol of fertility (male force) , regeneration of life force, healing. In fact today snake imagery exists within our modern symbolism for physicians and hospitals in the form of the Caudacus, which is a staff intercoiled with a snake. The snake is also the symbol for the male reproductive organ. Interestingly snakes in ancient societies were considered beneficial instead of looked upon as suspicious creatures associated with evil and magic. If some forms of snake existed within foreign temple architecture why not Irish and Northwestern Neolithic societies?

In Ireland, St. Patrick was attributed as singlehandedly getting rid of all 'snakes' in the country. Of course this again is another later symbolism to signify pagan religion (Celtism). Its also amazing to see the makeup of a famous illustrated manuscript, the Book of Kells (currently residing within the library at Trinity College, Dublin) as lavishly festooned with serpent interlacings and coilings right in the middle of Christianity at its rising power in Northern Europe. If you look at any modern snake distribution map of Northern Europe, you will note that Ireland is completely void of any species of snake. Britain and Scotland have the Common Adder as the only species left and Continential Europe still has a wide variety of species both venomous and non-poisonous. Gimbutas attributes the chevron, X and spiral as clear associations of snake worship as an epiphany of the earth Goddess (NOTE 4). In the Magdalenian time of the Upper Paleolithic period snake motifs were found on deer and animal bones as zig-zags, interlocking lozenge patterns and meandering parallel lines. Neolithic clay stamps back in 6,500 BC showed the spiral most commonly recognised as decorating the entrance stone to Newgrange. Water symbolism was also associated with snake motifs since some species were amphibious.

Some topographical plans of mounds, according to Gimbutas, represented the Earth Goddess as full human form. Irish court cairns showed horned stones protruding from each wing of the antechamber of the cairn and this symbolized the open legs of the Goddess receiving all to her 'court area'. Obviously this area held fertility rituals and libations etc. In some striking examples the outline of eyes can be seen from the plans. At Goto, Malta,there are mounds with 4 recesses and a chamber in curved outlines. Its worth noting that nearly all surviving stone chamber basins in which cremated and inhumed remains were discovered of both animal and human origin are in fact oval or egg shaped . This symbolizes the bringing forth of new regenerative life forces deep within the Goddess's belly and appearing as a deliberate intention on the part of the carvers/scupturers. Add to this the discovery of various sized stone balls of different stone types and carved and/or coloured, some having serpent reliefs enlaided within the stone surfaces (NOTE5 ). On a symbolic level, did these stones conceive seedlings 'implanted' within the 'womb' ,read chamber, of the Megalithic complex? Gimbutas seemed to think so. But what about snake motifs from Irish monuments? You might think its not possible ..read on and decide for yourself.

Copyright © Paul Griffin 2000 - 2003