[Stones] Lost worlds in grains of sand

[Thelma Wilcox]

  ----- Original Message -----





  Subject: RE: Stone Heads
  There is a photo of the stone heads of Boa Island in Ann Ross's Celtic Realms, so I know them well and they do have triangulated bearded faces, and in the photo look very "Easter Island" ish.  She illustrates quite a few heads, and, as I live in Bath, the so called Celtic head/gorgon head compared to the classical Minerva head is interesting. There is a another "gorgon" type head to be found down the road at Caerwent, and another interesting  "classical" narrow faced head but with protruding eyes to be found at Gloucester, and there is of course several primitive crudely carved heads, which seem to mean that the auxiliaries not only brought their own religion but sat down and carved their own effigies.  These heads seem to be only down here in this part of the south west and up north round the forts there.  What I find interesting, is, as you said they depict racial differences in their style.  I would have loved to be around at this time to see how all the conflicting religious interests worked it out....

  p.s. sorry Littlestone for talking heads on "Grains of sand" topic but it is a fascinating subject.
  Thelma 


  Celtic-style stone heads seem to have a common factor in being distinctly triangular in shape with a broad forehead tapering to a pointed chin. I have often wondered if this represents a true racial characteristic - any ideas? Once when I was showing slides of stone heads of this type to a group one of the members said she had just been for a holiday in a village in central Turkey where the local people showed the same characteristic. This would seem to have been in the ancient Celtic province of Galatia so there would  be a logical explanation. 

   

  In view of the fact that modern research is showing that impact of the Celtic race (as opposed to Celtic culture) on the British Isles was minimal I find Thelma's comment interesting that the carvings may have been made by auxiliaries of Celtic race in the Roman army - seems a good explanation. 

   

  In Ireland in Co. Fermanagh there are quite a number of heads of this style which have turned up in sacred sites - many of which became sites of early Christian churches. On the site of Caldragh churchyard, Boa Island, on Lough Erne is a wonderful double "Janus head" in the triangular shape. Close to it is another single head. On White Island also on Lough Erne there is a Romanesque church in the foundations of which a number of Celtic-style statues and heads were found buried in the foundations. These are now re-erected and stand built into a wall of the ruins. One could assume that the local people with the coming of the new religion did not want to say "good-bye" to the representatives of their old faith and ensured their preservation. A very good book on the topic of stone heads in Ireland is "Images of Stone" by Helen Hickey (Blackstaff Press ISBN 0 85640 110 2 ) The Caldragh site is particularly "atmospheric" - with a real feeling about it. In the White Island site there is more to see - but also more tourists. 

  Desmond

   

   

  -----Original Message-----
  From: stones-bounces at henge.org.uk [mailto:stones-bounces at henge.org.uk]On Behalf Of Thelma Wilcox
  Sent: Sunday, 13 August 2006 7:30 p.m.
  To: The Stones Mailing List
  Subject: Re: [Stones] Lost worlds in grains of sand

   

  Stone heads...I never really give up on pursuing interesting ideas Littlestone, heaven forbid ;) so last week took photos of several heads at the Roman Baths to continue my theory - two of course are the finest in the land.  Roman and celtic gods are part of my Nettleton Shrub blog, and there are really and truly stone celtic heads (probably carved by what I think of as the mercenary/ gaulish roman soldiers) in this area. At Caerleon, there is another gorgon type head, at Camerton a "neolithic" type head found near the foundations of a 3rd C villa.  Its true I can't wind them back another 2000 years but as far as symbolism goes there is'nt that much to choose from in the way of representational art...... and strangely all the Nettleon Shrub heads on the statures are missing as well - either the christians or paganism reasserting itself in a different form.

   p.s  We have'nt had our BA magazine yet, so can't comment on grains of sand..

  ----- Original Message ----- 


  From: littlestone 

  To: Stones at henge.org.uk 

  Sent: Saturday, August 12, 2006 7:52 PM

  Subject: [Stones] Lost worlds in grains of sand

   

  Cerri wrote -

   

  "This reminded me of an experiment: gently knock two quartz crystals together in the dark and watch the spark fly :-)"

   

  Wonder if sparks fly if you knock two stone heads together ;-)


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