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Glastonbury's annual stone circle conference, MEGALITHOMANIA, is pleased to announce that the 'Gorsedd of Ynys Witrin' (Bardic Chair of Glastonbury) will be hosting their bardic poetry competition on the Saturday evening. The Chair is contested by open competition annually, always on St. Dunstans Day (May 19th), each contestant performing for up to 15 minutes on a given theme, chosen by the previous Bard. The move to reinstate the Bardic Chairs of Albion has been ongoing for some years now, there being historical evidence of ancient Bardic Chairs (Gorseddau) in many locations throughout Britain.
The Chairs are usually associated with high places, mounds, forts and sacred hills throughout Britain. Few people are yet aware of the Bardic Tradition in England. Of the thirty-one towns believed to have been Arch Druidic centres in ancient times (and therefore also bardic centers), the following have now been revived: Bath, Bristol, Winchester, Avebury, London, Ely, Exeter and now – Glastonbury.
The original bards were from Iron Age poets-mystics who kept the lore and history of their tribes, held high status and fulfilled an important cultural role. They were closely akin to the Druids and many believe that when occupying Romans destroyed, or drove the Druids underground, their knowledge and rites were passed on to the Bardic Order. Some historians believe that much of the passed-on knowledge originated in neolithic times, possibly during the megalithic era where committing knowledge to memory was more important than written languages.
Hugh Newman, the organiser of MEGALITHOMANIA, told us “To have the Bards of Glastonbury join us at the conference is an honour and it will be a welcome treat for the Megalithomania delegates. The revival of this tradition is essential in re-establishing a connection to our ancestors.”
The Bardic Trials take place on the 15th , 17th and the final is on the Saturday evening at the Assembly Rooms, coinciding with Megalithomania. Entrance to the Bardic Trials is by donation.
MEGALITHOMANIA is committed to reminding us of the rich neolithic heritage lurking behind the propaganda of official archaeological history. The extraordinary ingenuity of our ancestors is examined by cutting-edge researchers and famous authors who share the podium to give us a glimpse in to the minds of our distant neolithic kin. Oral traditions were at the very core of this ancient society, so Megalithomania is honoured to be able to support this important and timely bardic revival.
The conference main event includes geometer and teacher, Keith Critchlow, who will be updating his research into the geometry of the “megalithic artists”. Famous local author Robert Temple will be giving us a glimpse through crystal lenses, suggesting they could have been part of the megalithic surveyors and astronomers tool kit. And to coincide with the republication of his original book Megalithomania (1982), John Michell will be looking at the artists, antiquarians and archaeologists that gave rise to the name of the conference, forty years after the original earth mysteries renaissance.
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