Winter Solstice: A Triumph For Light On The Darkest Day Of The Year
Submitted by Andy B on Thursday, 14 December 2006 Page Views: 4736
Modern SitesTwo years ago, at dawn on a cold December morning, Kate and I piled rocks and stones into two cairns under an old maple tree in the yard. The tree stands at the crest of the hill that our property straddles. We were marking two points on a line to the southeast - a line that when extrapolated to the horizon hit the deep red bull's-eye of the rising sun. It was the beginning of the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. The sunrise was at the southern terminus of its annual journey up and down the eastern horizon.People have been engaging in similar activities for thousands of years. Long before there was a month of December, more than 5,000 years ago, a remarkable tomb was constructed in a kidney-shaped mound atop a hill in what is today Newgrange, Ireland, about 30 miles northwest of Dublin. The cruciform chamber at the heart of the mound lies at the end of a narrow 62-foot passage. On the winter solstice, at four and a half minutes after sunrise, the rays of the sun slip through a slit above the door and pierce the passageway, illuminating carved designs in the chamber.
More: The Newton Bee
We would like to know more about this location. Please feel free to add a brief description and any relevant information in your own language.
Wir möchten mehr über diese Stätte erfahren. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, eine kurze Beschreibung und relevante Informationen in Deutsch hinzuzufügen.
Nous aimerions en savoir encore un peu sur les lieux. S'il vous plaît n'hesitez pas à ajouter une courte description et tous les renseignements pertinents dans votre propre langue.
Quisieramos informarnos un poco más de las lugares. No dude en añadir una breve descripción y otros datos relevantes en su propio idioma.