Newgrange - Ireland
Newgrange is Europe's most impressive archaeological monument. For general information on Newgrange I advise you to visit the excellent website www.knowth.com/ and www.newgrange.com/.
The Bull of Newgrange
When seen from above Newgrange looks like a giant skull, the top part of the skull of a Bull with long horns. The circular form between its horns, the grass covered roof, almost certain represents a large golden sun disc. It is obvious that the constructors of Newgrange constructed the temple in honour of the horned Bull of Heaven which, as I believe, can be considered a metaphor of Halley's Comet.
Little is known about the adoration of Halley's Comet in antiquity. The oldest written source that can be granted to the apparition of Halley's Comet is from 240 BC and was recorded by Chinese astronomers. Also the Babylonian astronomers where interested in the return and visibility of Halley's Comet as a Babylonian tablet, dated to 164 BC, show. If Halley's Comet was seen prior to 240 BC, the age of Halley's Comet has been calculated (1) on about 174.570 years, than we might expect that civilisations used metaphors for this strange and remarkable astronomical, once in a lifetime, event.
I find it hard to believe that Edmond Halley was the first astronomer who noticed the periodicity of our greatest and most famous comet. If Halley's Comet is, as been suggested by David W. Hughes (1), returning for about nearly 175.000 years and finds its way around the sun than we might suspect the enormous impact this comet must have had on the consciousness of man.
We must understand that a return of Halley's Comet can be seen by the naked eye sometimes for a few days but often for several weeks up to several months. And when its huge tails were visible around sunrise in the east and around sunset in the west than we can hardly imagine how impressive these weeks must have been for the common man.
So it would, in my opinion, make sense, if our ancestors kept astronomical records of each apparition of Halley's Comet. In the time Newgrange was constructed, after the perihelion passage of Halley's Comet in December 3099 BC, as we will see, we might expect the time of the orbits of the five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter) were known, circling around the earth, as the moon and the sun did in these days. Man experienced total and fractional sun eclipses, but eclipses occur regional and last only for a few minutes. Suneclipses can never held responsible for the start of religious constructions at the same time on different spots around the world! Comet Halley on the other hand could be seen at sunrise, at sunset, sometimes during the day and also at night around the world on the same day! From the fact that around about 3100 BC in Egypt (Hierakonpolis), in
What can be noticed are the many religious metaphors that almost certainly are related to apparitions of Halley's Comet in these different places. For instance in the case of Newgrange the comet's tail seem to have been identied with the structure of fishbones and with the Bulls horns holding the Sun disc. The legends of the mythological Aengus, closely related to ancient Newgrange site, who, as a divine shapeshifter, seems to contain many metaphors of comets. For example: the sword 'the Great Fury' (sometimes comets could be seen in the shape of a dagger, spear, arrow javellin or sword) and 'the small Fury' and the 'Two spears of Great Power' certainly reflect the memory of the many shapes, and many metaphors that are related to our brightest -once in a lifetime- comet (see .pdf attached)
In ancient Egypt the powerful tails of Halley's Comet might be held responsible for the metaphor of the (white) hawk Horus: Hierakonpolis 'City of the Hawk' became the religious capital of southern Egypt around 3100 BC.
In Skara-brae, on the Orkney Islands, we can notice the inhabitants, being interested in the White-tailed Eagle for the remains of, at least, 15 white-tailed eagles have been found which could not be related to domestic consumption practises. We might expect, for the same reason, a relation between this veneration and the perceptable shape of Halley's Comet.(2).
In Stonehenge pick axes made from the red deer antler and shovels from the shoulder-blades of oxen have been found (3). I have wondered how a red deer antler can be related to Halley's Comet. But when the dirty snowball filled with stones and ice, like Halley's Comet, is warmed up by the sun, the tails become visible due to the melting of the comets outer parts. It starts to melt and small particles of stone might break loose and transform the appearance of a Horned Bull into the structure of a deers antlers. And so the red deer antler, which can be seen in the Lascaux Cave (France, about 14.000 BC) in company with (mythological) horses and bulls might be also be considered as being a metaphor of Halley´s Comet. We should think in a way the ancient 'cavemen' did. The sudden appearance of a bright comet, visible for many days, weeks and up to several months must have 'rocked' their world! To express the idea of the dark universe, the place where the comet came from, they choose to leave their message inside the dark underworld so it would last for a long long time. Caves have always been, because of the darkness, related to a solemn and sacred places and even in Newgrange we can notice an artificial cave which will be lit up on some special days in de year related to the coming of the comet.
Inscriptions of daggers and axe-heads have been found on the Stonehenge sarsenstones, again, because of the shape, can be considered metaphors for Comet Halley. But we might detect many more metaphors if we are just willing to think like our ancestors. The used metaphors and left these metaphors, the Bulls horns, the tail and manes of a horse, the beard of a king for us to discover. It took me many years, reading many books, to discover that the answer on the question where religion is all about, is so logic that it escaped almost anyone's attention. Not only did our ancestors leave their beautifull paintings in the dark; our archaeologists and historians remained there too. They have not discovered the truth. They have not focused on the great picture that is so obvious to see once discovered. For many decennia we have looked at cave paintings as being scenes expressing the art of hunting. But the hunting, as for example in the cave of Lascaux seems to be also related to certain starconstellations. Why? The answer is: because the animals are metaphors og Halley's Comet and the starconstellations reflect the spot of dissappearance of this bright comet. We would certainly do the same: we would notice the appearance of a bright comet and follow its position in the sky as long as we can. And one day, or night, we would notice that the comet could no longer be seen. We counted the days of its bright appearance and we would leave a memory of the amount of days. And in caves they simply brushed their hands against the rocky background so we are able to count the fingers. The ancient astronomers left us a testimony in 'counting fingers' and in metaphors. In days and in Comet Halley's shape.
The sarsen trilithons in Stonehenge are placed in the shape of a horse-shoe. A HORSE SHOE. Metaphor! And the avenue between Stonehenge and the River Avon comes to an end in the paddock (a paddock is a small enclosure especially for horses) on front of West Amesbury House (3). Metaphor! The horse itself, with its long manes and hairy tail, is a metaphor for Halley's Comet as we might noticed in the Lascaux Cave. Religion seems to be comet-centric! Stonehenge seems to be constructed in memory of a special bright appearance(s) of Halley's Comet. And because the face of a bearded king has been found on of the stones we might nog only consider the beard of a king as a metaphor (another name for comets are 'beardstars'; because they look like hairy beards) we might also expect rituals related to the 75/76 years return of this comet. And even the altering of Stonehenge, when a more impressive return, in relation to the day of the perihelion passage of our brightest comet occured. The most impressive returns of this comet, in relation to the day of the perihelion passage, would be: a perihelion passage of Halley's Comet near or on a equinox, a perihelion passage near or on a solstice, a perihelion passage on the day of a (fractional of total) moon or suneclipse, a perihelion passage on the day of a remarkable triad, a perihelion passage on a day that once happened before (days of perihelion passages seldom fall on one particular date).
Ancient (Irish) druids wanted to communicate with us but appearantly we are not able to do so. Why? It is probably because we never realised the importance of metaphors for Halley's Comet. Almost 5000 years have passed by since Newgrange was constructed. And we seem to have lost the ability to see the Great Picture. 'kIngdom"and 'kings'are metaphors. The avatar of a king seems to have been totally constructed on metaphors: 'the Crown' marks sunrise or sunset, the King ia always riding a horse of course and is always bearded; is always carrying a staff, a sword, a spear, a shield or a dagger. Kings are never born. We never know how old they were when they died. The King has always a perfect face and body. He is often fighing and conquering some kind of mythical dragon, snake or bull. Metaphors! Once the secret of Halley's Comet was known the dragon was slewn, the bull has been killed, the snake died as soon as some learned men succeeded in predicting the next return of the bright comet! And ancient Irish druids seem to have been the first once to to do so. Therefore they had to know the orbit the known planets and the secret of periodicity of the comet.
Marking a special day
It is a remarkable fact that between 2647 BC (the oldest calculated perihelion passage by Joseph L. Brady) and 1986 AD (the last perihelion passage), 4633 years, Halley's Comet seldom had its perihelion passage on the same day. So if a temple is related to sunreligion (letting the sunrays in at sunrise or sunset and illuminating the interior) based on the return of Halley's Comet and was constructed on, let's say February 18 than we have, at least, two certainties:
- the first certainty is that there must be another day in the year as well that marks the same point of the rising sun, as sun moves along the horizon,
- the second certainty is that there is a great chance there might only be one specific perihelion passage on February 18 of Halley's Comet in the past 4633 years. This is a very important conclusion because we can easily check if an archaeological monument is related to the apparition of Halley's Comet if the day of the penetration of light into the holiest of the holy is known. For example: it is known that in
If
Is it possible to calculate Halley's Comet returns back in time?
Ofcourse it would be great if we can be sure that 3099 BC was in fact a year of Comet Halley's return. Thanks to the excellent work of Joseph L. Brady, who calculated perihelion passages of Halley's Comet as far back in time as 2647 BC there only remains a time-gap of 453 years between 2647 BC and 3100 BC. We might expect a relation between 3100 BC and 2647 BC as 453 years/75.9 years= about close to 6 returns of Halley´s Comet.
Brady states, in his underestimated publication on Comet Halley's periheliondates, that his calculations can be considered more precise than archaeological records might require. But between his oldest perihelion passage date and the construction of Newgrange is still a period of 453 years which equals 6 returns of the comet. How can we be sure Halley's Comet returned around 3100 BC and in what year 3099 BC, 3000 BC, 3001 BC or in any other year close to 3100 BC?
A secret knowledge comes to light if we record the position of planets on the day of perihelionpassages of Halley's Comet. Between 2647 BC and 393 BC, I found the surprising fact that on every third return of Halley's Comet planet Jupiter could be found in the constellation of Leo. This fact can easily be checked using astronomy software, as I used Starry Night Pro 6.0 and Brady's dates of perihelion passages of Halley´s Comet to look for planetary positions.
So what I did is detecting the position of Jupiter after 3 times 75.9 years. Jupiter is a slow moving planet. It takes Jupiter 11.86 years to travel around the sun so in twelve years it will be about one year in the constellation of Leo. (Because we have twelve zodiac-constellations we can say Jupiter resides about one year in each constellation). This is the year I was looking for because Jupiter was in Leo on Comet Halley's return in 2647 BC, in 2873 BC and in 3099 BC.
The constructors of Newgrange marked the day of the Wintersolstice by allowing the penetration of the sunlight on this special day lighten up the interior of this temple. They probably constructed Newgrange to show us that, in the past, in 3099 BC, Halley's Comet had its perihelion passage on an unique day: the wintersolstice in December. This might well explain why in other countries as well the construction of temples took a great flight.
Table I shows the perihelion dates of Halley's Comet between the Birth of Christ and 3099BC in relation to the position of Planet Jupiter in the constellation of Leo.
| PERIHELION DATE OF HALLEY'S COMET (according Joseph L. Brady) | JUPITER IN: |
| 87 BC Jul 10 | Gemini |
| 164 BC Jun 22 | Sagittarius |
| 241 BC Nov 30 | Cancer |
| 317 BC Oct 15 | Capricornus |
| 393 BC Apr 22 | Leo |
| 468 BC Jul 16 | Taurus |
| 544 BC April 10 | Sagittarius |
| 620 BC Oct 5 | Leo |
| 694 BC Nov 1 | Aries |
| 759 BC May 13 | Virgo |
| 845 BC Dec 29 | Leo |
| 918 BC Oct 31 | Gemini |
| 993 BC Mar 15 | Capricornus |
| 1069 BC Jul 13 | Leo |
| 1143 BC Apr 15 | Taurus |
| 1219 BC Feb 19 | Capricornus |
| 1295 BC Jan 31 | Leo |
| 1369 BC Mar 22 | Taurus |
| 1445 BC Jun 21 | Sagittarius |
| 1521 BC Aug 13 | Leo |
| 1594 BC Feb 2 | Taurus |
| 1670 BC Feb 27 | Sagittarius |
| 1746 BC Sep 19 | Leo |
| 1819 BC Nov 26 | Taurus |
| 1895 BC Mar 29 | Capricornus |
| 1971 BC Jun 10 | Leo |
| 2045 BC Oct 25 | Gemini |
| 2121 BC Dec 30 | Sagittarius |
| 2196 BC Jan 22 | Leo |
| 2270 BC Jan 26 | Taurus |
| 2347 BC Jul 21 | Ophiuchus |
| 2423 BC Sep 17 | Leo |
| 2497 BC Nov 1 | Aries |
| 2572 BC Jun 25 | Sagittarius |
| 2647 BC April 18 | Leo |
| Extrapolation Leo-Jupiter correlation: (Copyright 2008: Gilbert de Jong) |
|
| 2721 BC? | ? |
| 2798 BC? | ? |
| 2873 BC | Leo (Knowth) |
| 2949 BC? | ? |
| 3024 BC? | ? |
| 3099 BC Dec 21(?) | Leo (Newgrange) |
| 3174 BC? | ? |
| 3249 BC? | ? |
| 3324 BC | Leo (Dowth) |
| 3399 BC? | ? |
| 3474 BC? | ? |
| 3549 BC | Leo Masterplan of Knowth (Jupiter), Mars (Newgrange) and Regulus (Dowth) |
The Pattern in Boyle Valley
Besides Newgrange we can find two older megalithic monuments in the Boyne Valley. Extrapolation of the Leo/Jupiter/Comet Halley correlation show a surprising and possible relation to these other two ancient megalithic sites. Dowth is supposed to be constructed around 3300 BC and Knowth around 3500 BC. For the latter it also been suggested that it is younger than Newgrange. It seems as if the Irish people, or whoever came to Ireland to construct these monuments, knew that Jupiter was related to a fixed pattern of stars ('Leo') on every third return of Halley's Comet.
The discovery of this ancient and probably secret and sacred knowledge might be related to the origin and meaning of the double spiral symbol, that can be found, for instance, on the Newgrange entrance stone. If the interior of Newgrange indeed is related to Halley's Comet than the symbolism of the double spiral should be too.
Explaining the double spiral
Being able to predict the next appearance of Halley's Comet might be considered one of the greatest achievement of humankind on astronomy. Apparantly the Irish people living in the Valley of the Boyne might have been able to predict its next return within the timeframe of one year. But who told them the secret? Did they discover the relation between Jupiter and Halley's Comet themselves?
Consider the following:
The daily rotation of Earth creates the appearance of rings around the pole as we can see on the image on the Wikipedia article. But they respresent of course only the non-moving stars.
When a comet is moving in the direction of the Pole star, and we might observe this phenomenon in the evening and night, we might notice a spiralform instead of a ring. We might watch the comet approaching the pole for several days and we will notice the comet drawing smaller circles each day: spiralwise. After the comet passes the pole the circles will become larger each day. The result: two intertwined spiral forms: the double spiral.
It is a fact that Halley's Comet can pass over (both) poles of the earth by Nasa so the comet really can draw spirals in the air.
There is only one place on earth where exactly the same double spiral form can be found in a strong astronomical context: the Nazca-Palpa dessert. In the Nazca-Palpa dessert, Peru, huge geoglyphs and lines have been found with an unknown function. One of theses geoglyphs is a double spiral form, very similar to the double spiral forms on the entrance stone of Newgrange. In Newgrange the double spiral has been used as a a symbol (Newgrange is not an observatory) while in Nasca it seems to be related to astronomy and recordkeeping. The jigsawlines (see photogallery) proof the ancient astronomers were looking at the spots on the horizon where the comet passed when it drew its circles.
In Ireland the symbol of the double spiral was used in the construction of the temple of Newgrange. If the Irish 'discovered' the double spiral form than we might wonder if Irish astronomers, or other old world astronomers from the northern hemmisphere, were also responsible for the double spiralforms in Nazca! If this is the case than we might expect that some of the legends in South America show a 'fish' (salmon) relation with Newgrange. The image of what seem to represent the bones of a fish, often called 'a fern', in the Newgrange-temple can be considered a metaphor for the structure of the tail(s) of Halley's Comet. This metaphor seems to be specially related to the site of Newgrange for, in the past, before re-construction, rainwater was allowed to enter the temple from the roof, probably has a symbol of fertility as the salmon mates in the river Borne. The rainwater that fell into the large stone bowl has been probably used as a mirror reflecting certain stars or planets from a special viewpoint (4). Was the point where Halley´s Comet was last seen (for the last day of visibility seem to have ended the 'rule' of the celestial, and later mythical, King) marked by this particular spot?
The site of Nazca might also in other aspects be related to Ireland. 'Nasca' (Spanish: Nacer) can be translated as 'being born' or 'to be born'. In ancient literature it has been known as 'Nanasca' or 'Lanasca'. Is the Newgrange metaphorical fish ´the Salmon of Knowledge´, related to river Boyne, related to the site of Nazca? When I visited Nazca in 1998 I rented a plane for about an hour. I flew around and took photographs of famous Nazca petroglyphs as well as appeared to be unknown petroglyphs. One of the petroglyphs seemed to resemble the petroglyph of the fishbone-structure that can be noticed in the interior on the Newgrange temple.
It might be a strange coincidence that the word 'nasca' in some occasions can be related to ancient Irish placenames. I do not know for sure if there is a physical relation between Ireland and the place of Nazca, Peru, although I do suspect some relation or relations. It might be possible that, because of the foundation of Caral, the largest (Peruvian) city of the Americas that 'Halley's Comet'-worship, as the returning soul of a King, might have been introduced to the South Americans prior to its apparition of 2647 BC. If so than the (Phoenician) priests-astronomers, from the old world, might have looked upon Nazca, as being a large and unique school board where long term calculations on planetary positions in relation of the apparition of Comet Halley, on the southern hemisphere, could be made.
Probably this Peruvian legend is (partly) related to Newgrange:
'The Collas (Collasuyu) are many different tribes and boast of descent from various things. Some say their ancestors came out of Lake Titicaca. They considered it their mother, and before the Inca came, worshipped it among their many gods and performed sacrifices on its shores. Others claimed to descent from a great fountain which they declared their first ancestor. Others took pride in the appearance of their forefathers from caves and nooks in great rocks, and held these places sacred and visited them in due season with sacrifices and the thanksgiving of children to their parents. Others said that the first of them had come from a river and revered and venerated it like a father. It was sacrilege to kill fish in that river, which they said were their brothers'. (5)
Phoenicians?
The Phoenicians have been considered the world's oldest seafaring nation and they might be held responsible for a widespread of religious teachings from very early times on. Phoenicians, according Herodotus started to quarrel along the seacoasts and they also seem to have had great knowledge on mathematics, astronomy and navigating. There is still a lot of confusion where the original inhabitants of Phoenicia came from. But it may show, in the near future, that those priest-astronomers, from Ireland, France or England, where able to predict the next apparition of Halley's Comet and might be held responsible for the knowledge on Halley's Comet that is involved in the masterplan of the Giza pyramids in Egypt of 2647 BC. There is only one good reason, as I have given it a good thought but I can't proof it, why this monument was constructed in Egypt. The reason for this is that a suneclipse marks the renewal of Kingdomship. I suppose the Phoenicians, involved in the construction of the pyramids, knew, as Comet Halley could be seen closest to the sun on April 18 2647 BC (Joseph L. Brady), a total suneclipse would occur above Egypt. And so the site of Giza, near river Nile, might show the huge astronomical skills of the ancient priest-astronomers. Ofcourse this is now purely speculation but, to my opinion, this is the greatest secret of the location of Giza: it is marking the spot of the perihelion passage of Comet Halley in relation to an area where a total suneclipse occured: the day of April 18 2647 BC.
Kings and thrones
Newgrange as well as Stonehenge are closely related to legendary Kings. Unfortunately the concept of Heavenly Kingdom is, to my opinion, misunderstood. For example: a throne in a temple was originally meant as a seat for the deceased emperor, not for a earthly ruler. In a temple one could honour the King by making sacrifices to him or being sacrificed to him, as many where, so they became servants of the King of Heaven. Therefore the returning Halley's Comet, can be looked upon the physical manifestation of a dead king. When the Halley's Comet was seen the priests- astronomers seem to have constructed memorials, where the celestial King (the body is always missing), was buried the site itself marking a special day of the year of Halley's Comet return when the comet could be spotted closest to the sun. The time from this day until the day of his/its last visibility seem to have been identical to his reignal years. Although the comet could be spotted all around the world, the days of visibility due to geographical and other circumstances might cause differences in the kings reignal 'years'.
December 21
The construction of Newgrange, is, as I have suggested, probably based on the apparition of Halley's Comet in 3099 BC when it might have its perihelion passage, with its tail looking like the bones of a fish, on december 21. Therefore the bones of a fish, the mythical Salmon of Knowledge, related to the River Boyne, can be considered one of the many known metaphors of our brightest periodic comet and the knowledge on its return was kept secret and sacred by the ancient priest-astronomers.
Watch the Newgrange Wintersolstice on YouTube!
E-mail
Tell me what you think of the possible Newgrange-Halley's Comet relation. My e-mailadress: gilbertdejong#gmail.com (replace # fo @)
References
(1) Hughes, David W. The Size, mass, mass loss and age of Halley's Comet. Mon. Not. R. Astr. Soc. (1985) 213, 103-109.
(2) Jones, Andrew. Archaeological Theory and Scientific Practice. Cambridge University Press, 1982. ISBN 0521793939, 9780521793933.
(3) Atkinson, R.J.C. Stonehenge. Archaeology and interpretation. First published in 1956. Reprint with revisions 1979. P. 24
(4) Garnett, Jacqueline Ingalls. Newgrange speaks for itself. Forty carved motifs. ISBN 1-4120-5717-5.
(5) De la Vega, Garcilaso. Royal Commentaries of the Inca. Book two, Chapter XIX, p. 109. University of Texas Press,1966.
(Remark) There is also an interesting story in his book that connects the construction of water-spirals of Nasca ('puquios') with the death of priests in Cahuachi, by a 'fearfull sword from heaven'. The sword can be considered a metaphor of Comet Halley as, from my research, Nasca is related to the returns of Comet Halley.
(6) Földes-Papp, Károly. Vom Felsbild zum Alphabet. Die Geschichte der Schrift. ISBN 3-7630-1642-2.
(Remark) On the frontcover there is a picture probably showing the tails of a moving comet related to the images of bulls and a horse. The long hairy tail of a horse can be considered a metaphor of Halley's Comet for, ofcourse, an other name of comet is 'tail'-star. Because of the unknown nature of comets it becomes logic people picked a metaphor related to their enviroment. The Greek word 'Kometes' is also related to 'hair' as it has been explained of 'Hair of the dead'. Combs have in many occasions been used as gravegoods even when the (beheaded) 'person' either male or female had lost his head? This practise can, in my opinion only be explained, when we consider the comb as a gift for the King of Heaven: the 'Hairy' comet, and not for the victim itself.
Background reading
Astronomical:
On the possible discovery of the precessional effects in ancient astronomy (.pdf)
Lacerta ( Remark: keep in mind that the stars also mark the outline of a snake (a known metaphor of Halley's Comet) and is ofcourse also a reptile.
Comet on Wikipedia
Comet Halley on Wikipedia
Halley's Comet: AD 1986 to 2647 BC by Joseph L. Brady (1982) (.pdf)
Reference to Pliny's Natural History, Book II, Chapters XVIII - XXXVIII where he mentions Horned star and Horse-star as being metaphors of comets.
Ancient sites mentioned on this page:
Lascaux Cave on Wikipedia
Nazca lines on Wikipedia
Article on the Stonehenge daggers.
Wildlife:
Aurochs on Wikipedia.
Language:
Nacer
Claims by me:
Pre-Christian religion is worldwide based on apparitions of Comet Halley. The mythical dragon which was conquered by Saint George. It is actually the same metaphor as the 'Salmon of Wisdom' of Newgrange. Mankind discovered the secret of Halley's Comet return and could predict it's return for Jupiter was in Leo after three apparitions. Within one year of the perihelion passage of Halley's Comet the more or less parallel heliacal rising of Venus and Jupiter could be watched: crossing eachothers orbit. Two rising bright eyes at sunrise or at sunset that announced the coming of the legendary King of Heaven. Sometimes these two eyes became one: giving birth to the so-called 'fat Venus' statues but always in relation to the return of the Kings Soul, His rule and His death. The sequence ended in 164 BC when Jupiter was no longer in Leo, probably due to precession. His return could no longer be predicted and this might have caused the rise of Christianity.
