The prehistoric passage tomb of...
Illustration
Object:
The prehistoric passage tomb of Newgrange, in Ireland, is a mysterious and fascinating
place to visit. It's a raised, earthen mound that dates back to around 3200 BCE. This
means it's older than both Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt.
The most remarkable feature of the tomb is the way it's designed to catch the rays of the sun on one particular day each year: the winter solstice. Beginning at dawn, from December 19-23, a beam of light from the rising sun shines down the narrow passageway into the center of the tomb, illuminating the inner chamber for just seventeen minutes.
Because only a handful of visitors can fit into the tiny chamber to witness this phenomenon, each year the Irish historic-monuments agency conducts a lottery to decide who will have that privilege. Chances of winning are remote: In 2006, there were 27,485 entries for the "Winter Solstice Draw" -- and, even then, heavy cloud cover can render a winning ticket useless.
See http://www.knowth.com.
How did the ancient architect design the tomb so precisely? No one knows. Yet, for well over 5,000 years, the light has broken into the darkness predictably and consistently.
There's a profound desire, deeply imprinted on the human soul, to see light piercing darkness. Such a sight warms our spirits. It's no wonder the prophet Isaiah, seeking to capture the wonder of the inbreaking power of God, chose the image of light in the midst of darkness.
The most remarkable feature of the tomb is the way it's designed to catch the rays of the sun on one particular day each year: the winter solstice. Beginning at dawn, from December 19-23, a beam of light from the rising sun shines down the narrow passageway into the center of the tomb, illuminating the inner chamber for just seventeen minutes.
Because only a handful of visitors can fit into the tiny chamber to witness this phenomenon, each year the Irish historic-monuments agency conducts a lottery to decide who will have that privilege. Chances of winning are remote: In 2006, there were 27,485 entries for the "Winter Solstice Draw" -- and, even then, heavy cloud cover can render a winning ticket useless.
See http://www.knowth.com.
How did the ancient architect design the tomb so precisely? No one knows. Yet, for well over 5,000 years, the light has broken into the darkness predictably and consistently.
There's a profound desire, deeply imprinted on the human soul, to see light piercing darkness. Such a sight warms our spirits. It's no wonder the prophet Isaiah, seeking to capture the wonder of the inbreaking power of God, chose the image of light in the midst of darkness.
