following on from previous post,
an article by M Guillaume found in
AAK Etudes et Travaux No. 1, 1977
Do these three stages [at Gavrinis] not correspond to the three creations, probably inherited by Celts, and those in Egypt, preceding access to a sanctuary?
It is the right side of the hall, facing North, that flows around the solsticeThe extreme points of sunrise and sunset in the year. In midwinter the sun is to the south of the celestial equator (the reverse in the southern hemisphere) and in midsummer the sun is north of that equator, which is above the geographical Equator). axis of the monument, while the left side is more continuous and less sinuous and this again signifies some differentiation between the two side walls.
In the above Chinese banner, the right side ends in the chamber by the sun, while the left side ends with the moon. (See, in the second issue of our newsletter, a more detailed study of Gavrinis and its symbols).
Returning to the three stages at Gavrinis’ hallway (see above), the first part contains stones engraved in a distinctly anthropomorphic way, implying a preparatory step upon entry.
Nested semicircles define the three segments, and this links the two movements sketched out previously. But why are there semicircular forms?
In the bulletin Ia French Prehistoric Society 1975, footnote, p.366 gives a section of M Bailloud on the decoration of vases:
“On nested semicircles: this is where the points of comparison are the most numerous and persuasive, within the slabs of Gavrinis (Corpus Plate 99 132), the dolmenA chamber made of vertical megaliths upon which a roof or ceiling slab was balanced. of Petit Mont (Corpus boards 71, 72.80, 81) the dolmen Coude de Pierres Plates (Corpus Plates 88), and Pola de Allende in Asturias (Powell and Daniel 1956, Plate 33This is the number of years for an exact number of 12053 days. This period can be measured using the equinoctal sun and it has come to be known as the lifetime of semi-divine Solar Heroes such as Jesus and Mithras. This period relates geometrically to the 18.618 years of the moon's nodal period.). A related pattern exists in Ireland Lough Crew, but this site is two-thirds of circles rather than semi-circles.”