Mount Killaraus: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Legendary hill or mountain in Ireland}} |
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'''Mount Killaraus''' is a [[legend]]ary [[mountain]] in [[Ireland]], most famous for being the source of the stones of [[Stonehenge]] in [[Arthurian legend]]. |
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In [[Arthurian legend]], '''Mount Killaraus''' ({{langx|la|mons Killaraus}}) is a [[legend]]ary place in [[Ireland]] where [[Stonehenge]] originally stood. According to the narrative presented in [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]]'s ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]'', King [[Ambrosius Aurelianus]] embarks on a quest to construct a memorial for the [[Celtic Britons]] who were treacherously slain by [[Anglo-Saxons]]. When conventional methods fail to produce an awe-inspiring monument, Ambrosius turns to the renowned wizard [[Merlin]] for guidance. In response, Merlin advises the king to transport a [[stone circle]] known as the [[Giant's Ring]] from Mount Killaraus in Ireland, attributing magical and healing properties to these stones, which were believed to have been brought from Africa by giants. |
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[[Geoffrey of Monmouth]] records the story in his ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]''. He describes how [[Aurelius Ambrosius]] returned from his exile in [[Brittany]] and burnt [[Vortigern]] in his tower. Rallying the Britons, he triumphed over the [[Saxon people|Saxon]] invaders and executed their leader, [[Hengist]]. Following the victory he decided to set up a great memorial to his triumph at a place called Mount Ambrius. When his carpenters and masons were unable to come up with a suitable awe-inspiring design, Ambrosius commissioned [[Merlin (wizard)|Merlin]] to create one. |
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This prompts [[Uther Pendragon]] to lead an expedition to Ireland, where a battle against the Irish king [[Gillomanius]] ensues, resulting in the successful retrieval of the stones with Merlin's magical assistance. While the story itself is fictional, archaeological research by [[Mike Parker Pearson]] suggests intriguing connections between Stonehenge and the [[Waun Mawn]] stone circle in [[Wales]], indicating the potential for a historical basis within the legendary narrative. |
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Merlin’s solution was to import a [[stone circle]] called the Giant's Round from its home atop Mount Killaraus. [[giant (mythology)|Giants]] from [[Africa]] had originally brought the stones to Killaraus. They would pour water over the stones and use it to fill baths in which they cured their sick. [[Uther Pendragon]] went with 15,000 men to retrieve the stones but they proved too heavy to move. Laughing, Merlin transported them to [[Salisbury Plain]] using his magic and set them up just as they were. According to Geoffrey, they have stood there ever since as Stonehenge. |
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== Merlin legend == |
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The first record of the Merlin story is in [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]]'s 12th century ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]'' ('History of the Kings of Britain'). It tells how king [[Ambrosius Aurelianus|Aurelius Ambrosius]] sought to build a memorial to the [[Celtic Britons]] who were treacherously slain by [[Anglo-Saxons]]. |
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When his carpenters and masons cannot come up with a suitably awe-inspiring monument, Ambrosius asks the wizard [[Merlin (wizard)|Merlin]] for advice. Merlin tells the king to transport a [[stone circle]] called the Giant's Ring from Mount Killaraus in Ireland. He says they are magical healing stones that had been brought from Africa by giants. |
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[[Uther Pendragon]] sails to Ireland with 15,000 men to retrieve the stones. The Irish king Gillomanius marches against them with a large army, but is defeated. With Merlin's help, the Britons transport the stones to Britain and set them up as they had originally stood.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Ring |editor-first=Trudy |year=1995 |title=International Dictionary of Historic Places |volume=2: Northern Europe |pages=34–35 |publisher=Routledge}}</ref> |
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==Possible original== |
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=== Hill of Uisneach, Ireland === |
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The name ''mons Killaraus'' could mean the "hill of [[Killare (civil parish)|Killare]]" and thus may refer to the [[Hill of Uisneach]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Dames |first=Michael |year=2000 |title=Ireland: A sacred journey |page=190 |publisher=Element Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Veach |first=Colin |year=2015 |title=Lordship in Four Realms: The Lacy family, 1166–1241 |page=62 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> This is an ancient ceremonial site with numerous prehistoric monuments, which was seen as the sacred centre of Ireland. |
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=== Waun Mawn circle, Wales === |
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Many of Stonehenge's original [[bluestone]]s have been traced to quarries in the [[Preseli Hills]], in west [[Wales]]. |
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Although the Merlin tale is fiction, archaeologist [[Mike Parker Pearson]] suggests that there may be a "tiny grain of truth" in it.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dramatic Stonehenge discovery boosts 'Irish' account of its origins |date=12 February 2021 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |department=Culture & heritage |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/dramatic-stonehenge-discovery-boosts-irish-account-of-its-origins-1.4483067}}</ref> |
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[[Mike Parker Pearson|Pearson's]] team of archaeologists found evidence suggesting that most of the [[Waun Mawn]] stone circle in the Preseli Hills was taken down and brought to [[Salisbury Plain]], where it became the first phase of Stonehenge.<ref>{{cite journal |author1-link=Mike Parker Pearson |author1=Pearson, M. |author2=Pollard, J. |author3=Richards, C. |author4=Welham, K. |author5=Kinnaird, T. |author6=Shaw, D. |author7=Simmons, E. |author8=Stanford, A. |author9=Bevins, R. |author10=Ixer, R. |author11=Ruggles. C. |author12=Rylatt, J. |author13=Edinborough, K. |display-authors=6 |year=2021 |title=The original Stonehenge? A dismantled stone circle in the Preseli Hills of west Wales |journal=[[Antiquity (journal)|Antiquity]] |volume=95 |issue=379 |pages=85–103 |doi=10.15184/aqy.2020.239 |s2cid=231892087 |doi-access=free }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist|25em}} |
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*[[Christopher Chippindale]], ''Stonehenge Complete'', Thames and Hudson, London, 2004 |
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{{Stonehenge}} |
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[[Category:Arthurian |
[[Category:Locations associated with Arthurian legend]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:British folklore]] |
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[[Category:Stonehenge]] |
[[Category:Stonehenge]] |
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[[Category:Locations in Celtic mythology]] |
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[[Category:Mythological mountains|Killaraus]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:11, 1 November 2024
In Arthurian legend, Mount Killaraus (Latin: mons Killaraus) is a legendary place in Ireland where Stonehenge originally stood. According to the narrative presented in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, King Ambrosius Aurelianus embarks on a quest to construct a memorial for the Celtic Britons who were treacherously slain by Anglo-Saxons. When conventional methods fail to produce an awe-inspiring monument, Ambrosius turns to the renowned wizard Merlin for guidance. In response, Merlin advises the king to transport a stone circle known as the Giant's Ring from Mount Killaraus in Ireland, attributing magical and healing properties to these stones, which were believed to have been brought from Africa by giants.
This prompts Uther Pendragon to lead an expedition to Ireland, where a battle against the Irish king Gillomanius ensues, resulting in the successful retrieval of the stones with Merlin's magical assistance. While the story itself is fictional, archaeological research by Mike Parker Pearson suggests intriguing connections between Stonehenge and the Waun Mawn stone circle in Wales, indicating the potential for a historical basis within the legendary narrative.
Merlin legend
[edit]The first record of the Merlin story is in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th century Historia Regum Britanniae ('History of the Kings of Britain'). It tells how king Aurelius Ambrosius sought to build a memorial to the Celtic Britons who were treacherously slain by Anglo-Saxons.
When his carpenters and masons cannot come up with a suitably awe-inspiring monument, Ambrosius asks the wizard Merlin for advice. Merlin tells the king to transport a stone circle called the Giant's Ring from Mount Killaraus in Ireland. He says they are magical healing stones that had been brought from Africa by giants.
Uther Pendragon sails to Ireland with 15,000 men to retrieve the stones. The Irish king Gillomanius marches against them with a large army, but is defeated. With Merlin's help, the Britons transport the stones to Britain and set them up as they had originally stood.[1]
Possible original
[edit]Hill of Uisneach, Ireland
[edit]The name mons Killaraus could mean the "hill of Killare" and thus may refer to the Hill of Uisneach.[2][3] This is an ancient ceremonial site with numerous prehistoric monuments, which was seen as the sacred centre of Ireland.
Waun Mawn circle, Wales
[edit]Many of Stonehenge's original bluestones have been traced to quarries in the Preseli Hills, in west Wales.
Although the Merlin tale is fiction, archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson suggests that there may be a "tiny grain of truth" in it.[4]
Pearson's team of archaeologists found evidence suggesting that most of the Waun Mawn stone circle in the Preseli Hills was taken down and brought to Salisbury Plain, where it became the first phase of Stonehenge.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Ring, Trudy, ed. (1995). International Dictionary of Historic Places. Vol. 2: Northern Europe. Routledge. pp. 34–35.
- ^ Dames, Michael (2000). Ireland: A sacred journey. Element Books. p. 190.
- ^ Veach, Colin (2015). Lordship in Four Realms: The Lacy family, 1166–1241. Oxford University Press. p. 62.
- ^ "Dramatic Stonehenge discovery boosts 'Irish' account of its origins". Culture & heritage. The Irish Times. 12 February 2021.
- ^ Pearson, M.; Pollard, J.; Richards, C.; Welham, K.; Kinnaird, T.; Shaw, D.; et al. (2021). "The original Stonehenge? A dismantled stone circle in the Preseli Hills of west Wales". Antiquity. 95 (379): 85–103. doi:10.15184/aqy.2020.239. S2CID 231892087.
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