Killicluggin stone
The Killicluggin stone (also Killycluggin or Killycluggun) is a stone decorated in the La Tène style, which was found in 1920 near Ballyconnel in County Cavan in Ireland near the stone circle of Killicluggin ( Irish Coillidh Chlogáin ) and is now an original in a museum from Ballyjamesduff stands. There is a replica on site.
The Killicluggin Stone is one of the few examples of the La Tène style in Ireland along with the Castlestrange Stone in County Roscommon , the Turoe Stone in County Galway and the Mullamast Stone in County Kildare . The stone was found 10 meters southeast of a stone circle but is now in the County Cavan Museum in Ballyjamesduff.
The monolith is decorated with intricate La Tene motifs and there were probably at least two others that were destroyed. In addition to the clearly phallic Gatepost from Maghera in County Down, Northern Ireland, it is considered one of the specimens with phallic or omphallic symbolism in Ireland. The excavation of Raftery in 1949–1954 and 1978 revealed that the stone was in a shallow pit.
The idol known as Crom Crúaich was the Irish god of harvest to whom human sacrifices were brought. Some locals say that the Killycluggin stone is the Crom Crúaich, others say it is the stone circle about 20 m in diameter, about 300 m from the replica, consisting of 15 mostly overturned stones. The stone was cut up and buried next to the stone circle. "Crom" (cf. Cromlech) in the sense of "curved" probably refers to the circle, but it could also apply to the stone. Part of the stone showing signs of severe cutting was discovered plowing in 1921, the other was found in 1952. The stone originally stood in the middle of the circle or outlier ( English outlier ) at a distance from the access stones.
The complete design of the roughly spherical stone as well as its original size and shape are unknown, however, as it was smashed when it was discovered. Its upper side is provided with parallel traces of abrasion. Some concentric circles and spirals can also be seen on the side.
literature
- Peter Harbison : Guide to National and Historic Monuments of Ireland. Including a Selection of other Monuments not in State Care. 3rd edition. Gill & Macmillan, Dublin 1992, ISBN 0-7171-3239-0 .
Web links
Coordinates: 54 ° 5 '32.8 " N , 7 ° 38' 9.3" W.