The HORSE and the BULL

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The HORSE and the BULL " the Kerry ", were extremely important to the CELTS for obvious reasons. One was used in battle, the other as a STATUS SYMBOL. It is many a battle that was fought over a BULL, and of course the HORSE would have been used during these, ( going by the old stories e.g. "the TAIN "). Although the IRISH Celts are not known for their use of the CHARIOT, ( none have been found, YET ), they may have been used , but would not have looked like the example here which would have been used on cermonial ocasions ). They had Banded, Spoked wheels, with WATTLED side panels, and constructed of OAK ,with either a pair, or single horse to draw them. A unique suspension system helped to limit the effect of rough ground on the ability of an Archer or Spear thrower to keep an accurate AIM at speed, , drawing the occupant into battle or on CEREMONIAL parade after a victory. Of course the ordinary family depended on the " horse and cart " for their every day needs, especially for farm work, and were the MF's and Zetor's of their time.

Horse Bits, and STIRRUP'S would have formed part of the horses TACKLE.The horse, like its rider, would have been highly ARMOURED / DECORATED with ORNAMENTED BRONZE ,and SILVER pieces, even a CROWN / HELMET similar to PETRIE Crown. Again this would be both practical, ( protection from both sword and spear/arrow, etc. ), and CEREMONIAL.

The CARVING of PILLAR-STONES seems to have ORIGINATED in BRITTANY, and the idea brought to Ireland. They are basically RELIEF carved stones with their CURVILINEAR STYLIZED DESIGN'S covering each face, and where the human form is included, it is the HEAD which is the most common part of the human figure used, ( Rem. HEAD HUNTERS ). The samples on BÓA Island Co. Fermanagh, show THREE different expressions on their carved faces, e.g. happiness, sadness, and ? . In this example we can see the HUMAN HEAD surrounded by CURVILINEAR DESIGNS with two similar, ( head type shapes ) above, and to either side of it / them , helping to emphasise the FACE'S. Remember that all four sides of this PILLAR is CARVED in RELIEF ,but it is the HEAD which is emphasised by the HIGH RELIEF. ( RELIEF CARVING is where the DESIGN is left STICKING UP or OUT from the BASE, and each side is viewed SEPARATELY.

The TUROE STONE is one of the most famous RELIEF carved stone pillars in Ireland. This Granite BOULDER has a CARVED DOMED top, onto which were carved the by now VERY familiar La Téne/CELTIC, WHORL'S, similar to those on the Petrie Crown. Here the CENTRAL" pieces" of each CIRCULAR / SPIRAL type design are not definable, ( i.e. not definitely BIRD or ANIMAL in origin ). This may have been deliberate, or may be due to EROSION which has taken place over the last 3,000 Yrs.. The Design again, is SYMMETRICAL and REPEATING, and the Stone can be said to have four sides, i.e. North, SOUTH, EAST, and WEST, with each CARDINAL POINT having IT'S own REPEATED DESIGN. The lower BAND of DESIGN , which is CUT / INCISED INTO the stone face, (i.e. NOT carved in RELIEF ) ,shows the CELTIC SYMBOL for the SUN, i.e. LIFE. It took many similar forms, but is based on the X or + shape , and the extended arms, symbolise the MOVEMENT of the SUN throughout the DAY / YEAR etc. The purpose for this STONE / PILLAR is not really known, but due to its unique SHAPE and DESIGN, it had some association with TIME / SEASON'S / ASTRONOMICAL SIGHTINGS/??-- Rem. that NEOLITHIC KERBSTONE --. After all, this is the TIME of the DRUIDS.

The coming of CHRISTIANITY to Ireland may have changed the type of " ART " objects produced, but it certainly did not diminish the QUALITY, and QUANTITY of same.