The harmony of the immaterial and the material in prehistoric

monuments

(Investigating ancient light and shadow interaction(Investigating ancient light and shadow interaction(Investigating ancient light and shadow interaction(Investigating ancient light and shadow interaction))))

Emília Pásztor, Hungary

Light and shadow interactions in nature

Velemér(Austria/Hungary)

Built 1200 AD, frescos 1378 AD, different frescos are lit up by the light comming through the round windowOn different days – at winter solstice the rays of the rising sun bright up the young Jesus in his mother’s lap. „The new light was born!”

ChichenChichenChichenChichen ItzaItzaItzaItza ––––CuculkanCuculkanCuculkanCuculkan templetempletempletempleWhen the Toltec people moved to ChichenItza, they merged their own zenithcosmology with the Mayan system, andthe result was the Pyramid of Cuculkan.This has been designed so that every year,at Equinox, the afternoon sun causes ashadow play so that it appears that a hugeserpent is descending from the sky, downthe pyramid.

Pantheon

The central point of the Pantheon is far above visitors’ heads: the great eye, or oculus, in the room. It looks small, but it’s 27ft across and the source of all light in the building — symbolic of how the sun is the source of all light on earth. Rain that comes through collects in a drain in the center of the floor; the stone and moisture keep the interior cool through the summer. Every year, on June 21st, the rays of the sun at the summer solstice shines from the oculus through the front door. It’s possible that the Pantheon has had an impact on Western religion: the Pantheon appears to be the first temple built with general public access in mind. Temples of the ancient world were generally limited only to specific priests; the public may have taken part in religious rituals in some fashion, but mostly as observers and outside the temple. The Pantheon, however, existed for all the people — a feature which is now standard for houses of worship in all religions of the West.

Rösaring(Sweden)

early Viking Age

Newgrange(Ireland)

The passage and chamber of Newgrange are illuminated by Newgrange are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the roof box over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. The dramatic event lasts for 17 minutes at dawn from the 19th to the 23rd of December.

Midwinter sunrise at New Grange

Loughcrew – Equinox(Ireland)

Inside the chamber, the bi-annual magic light show is taking place. The cleverly-crafted stone aperture allows warm sunlight to illuminate symbols on the rear of the back chamber wall - some symbols seemingly representing the sun and the stars.

Why was this place chosen?Why was this place chosen?Why was this place chosen?Why was this place chosen?

How was this place chosen ?How was this place chosen ?How was this place chosen ?How was this place chosen ?

no cave – no sacral grove –

no strange natural feature

not on the top of the hill

LayLayLayLay----out seems timeless out seems timeless out seems timeless out seems timeless –––– NE direction/entrance becomes the most importantNE direction/entrance becomes the most importantNE direction/entrance becomes the most importantNE direction/entrance becomes the most important

Entrances orientated to celestial phenomena have been accepted:

Stonehenge

Northernmost

Midsummersunrise

Midwinter sunset Southernmost

moonriseSouthSouthSouthSouth

EastEastEastEast

(after A. Burl;J.Pollard-C.Ruggles)

have been accepted: NE entrance: midsummer sunrise northernmost moonrise (cancelled: Pollard-Ruggles,

supported: Sims 2006)S entrance : culmination of celestial bodies

Additional direction without entrance: southernmost moonrise/midsummer full moon rise

(depositional practice)

Reason for siting:Reason for siting:Reason for siting:Reason for siting:not a terrestrial but a celestial element: SUNopen horizon to sun path (southern firmament)

(Évora megaliths: Almedres, Central European Neolithic Rondels)

Northernmostmoonrise

StonehengeStage for a light show