Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: druid

In 1942/43, the most significant find of La Tène period artefacts in the British Isles was found here during the construction of a Royal Air Force base. The first object found was a 3m long iron chain used for slaves. It was not initially recognised as antique. It was attached to a tractor and was used to pull trucks out of the mud. Despite its age, the chain served this function well. A total of 181 artefacts made of iron, copper and bronze were found, mainly various weapons, around 22 fittings and remains of chariots, horse harnesses, cauldron fragments, fittings for cult staffs and sceptres. A moon-shaped, gold-plated bronze plate from the 2nd or 1st century BC is divided into triskels by circular strokes. The deliberate bending and breaking of the artefacts revealed their purpose as sacrificial offerings. The period of use as a sacrificial site was dated from the 2nd century BC to the Roman invasion (1st century AD), with most of the offerings being deposited between 150 BC and 60 AD. When the Roman general Gaius Suetonius Paulinus conquered Anglesey around 60 AD, the island was an important centre of Druidism, which confirms the significance of the sacrificial site. From this time onwards, sacrifices probably no longer took place in Llyn Cerrig Bach.

Barclodiad y Gawres is a Neolithic burial chamber. It is an example of a cross-shaped passage grave, with a main and two side chambers. Some of the stones have spirals, zig-zags, lozenges and chevrons The megalithic complex was used for sacred purposes in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. In Celtic times it may have been connected to one of the "Druid groves" of Môn Mam Cymru mentioned by Tacitus. This cannot be ruled out because megalithic sanctuaries often had significance in the pagan Celtic religion. One of the decorated stones is seen on the right

Barclodiad y Gawres is a Neolithic burial chamber. It is an example of a cross-shaped passage grave, with a main and two side chambers. Some of the stones have spirals, zig-zags, lozenges and chevrons The megalithic complex was used for sacred purposes in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. In Celtic times it may have been connected to one of the "Druid groves" of Môn Mam Cymru mentioned by Tacitus. This cannot be ruled out because megalithic sanctuaries often had significance in the pagan Celtic religion.

Legends tell, that here, near a holy spring, Gallic druids met to worship a pagan wooden statue of a woman, when Dionysius of Paris (aka "Saint Denis") and his disciple Saint Yon christianized the area in the 3rd century. Dionysius discovered that the pagan idol in deed was a statue of the virgin ("virginia partitura"). This was a place of pilgrimage since very early times, being the oldest place of Marian devotion of Ile-de-France. Local nobility founded a convent in 1031 and added this as a priory to the Cluny-network around 1060. The convent went through very difficult times, but managed to exist up to the French Revolution. The property then got confiscated and was finally sold to a Swiss investor. The church, now serving the parish, was ruined. The old, unstable tower got demolished in 1794. During the early 19th century, the civil authorities warned people to enter the ruined church, that was ready for demolition. There were plans about replacing the ruin by a new, smaller building. Finally, after decades long discussions about financing, only parts of the church got demolished and the rebuilding process started in the second half of the century. For a long time, the convent, being a place of pilgrimage, was known for the many relics that could be worshipped here. After the raids of French Revolution most valuable shrines were lost, as they got melted down. Here are some new reliquaries, produced in the 19th century.

Legends tell, that here, near a holy spring, Gallic druids met to worship a pagan wooden statue of a woman, when Dionysius of Paris (aka "Saint Denis") and his disciple Saint Yon christianized the area in the 3rd century. Dionysius discovered that the pagan idol in deed was a statue of the virgin ("virginia partitura"). This was a place of pilgrimage since very early times, being the oldest place of Marian devotion of Ile-de-France. Local nobility founded a convent in 1031 and added this as a priory to the Cluny-network around 1060. The convent went through very difficult times, but managed to exist up to the French Revolution. The property then got confiscated and was finally sold to a Swiss investor. The church, now serving the parish, was ruined. The old, unstable tower got demolished in 1794. During the early 19th century, the civil authorities warned people to enter the ruined church, that was ready for demolition. There were plans about replacing the ruin by a new, smaller building. Finally, after decades long discussions about financing, only parts of the church got demolished and the rebuilding process started in the second half of the century. The nave upto the crossing dates to 1100/1130. The crossing and the apse were erected 1875/1878, replacing the ruined parts of the church. To reach Longpont-sur-Orge I had to cross the very busy Route National 20 - and found out, that this road for sure once was the "chemin".

Legends tell, that here, near a holy spring, Gallic druids met to worship a pagan wooden statue of a woman, when Dionysius of Paris (aka "Saint Denis") and his disciple Saint Yon christianized the area in the 3rd century. Dionysius discovered that the pagan idol in deed was a statue of the virgin ("virginia partitura"). This was a place of pilgrimage since very early times, being the oldest place of Marian devotion of Ile-de-France. Local nobility founded a convent in 1031 and added this as a priory to the Cluny-network around 1060. The convent went through very difficult times, but managed to exist up to the French Revolution. The property then got confiscated and was finally sold to a Swiss investor. The church, now serving the parish, was ruined. The old, unstable tower got demolished in 1794. During the early 19th century, the civil authorities warned people to enter the ruined church, that was ready for demolition. There were plans about replacing the ruin by a new, smaller building. Finally, after decades long discussions about financing, only parts of the church got demolished and the rebuilding process started in the second half of the century. The (damaged) portal seen here is from 1220 - and for this is pretty "modern". The "Coronation of the Virgin", was created just a few decades after the tympanum of the cathedral in Senlis had introduced this icon. To reach Longpont-sur-Orge I had to cross the very busy Route National 20 - and found out, that this road was for sure once was the "chemin".

Legends tell, that here, near a holy spring, Gallic druids met to worship a pagan wooden statue of a woman, when Dionysius of Paris (aka "Saint Denis") and his disciple Saint Yon christianized the area in the 3rd century. Dionysius discovered that the pagan idol in deed was a statue of the virgin ("virginia partitura"). This was a place of pilgrimage since very early times, being the oldest place of Marian devotion of Ile-de-France. Local nobility founded a convent in 1031 and added this as a priory to the Cluny-network around 1060. The convent went through very difficult times, but managed to exist up to the French Revolution. The property then got confiscated and was finally sold to a Swiss investor. The church, now serving the parish, was ruined. The old, unstable tower got demolished in 1794. During the early 19th century, the civil authorities warned people to enter the ruined church, that was ready for demolition. There were plans about replacing the ruin by a new, smaller building. Finally, after decades long discussions about financing, only parts of the church got demolished and the rebuilding process started in the second half of the century. To reach Longpont-sur-Orge I had to cross the very busy Route National 20 - and found out, that this road for sure once was the "chemin".