{"id":47242,"title":"The Stone of the Seven Suns","description":"The Stone of the Seven Suns is a famous carved kerbstone at the Dowth neolithic passage tomb - part of the Br\u00fa na B\u00f3inne complex located in County Meath, Ireland.","content":"

The passage tomb of Dowth is one of the key monuments within the Br\u00fa na B\u00f3inne complex in Ireland. Directly opposite the entrance to the north tomb is a kerbstone known as The Stone of the Seven Suns<\/strong>.<\/p>

\"buheyuqnsl6ignfdufkytuyuewk40bu6p1cyk39d1pijyj2p.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"The construction, layout, and carved stones have long attracted scholarly attention due to their astronomical alignments and the rich mythological narratives associated with them. Among these stories is the tale of Bresal B\u00f3-D\u00edbad<\/strong>.<\/p>

Bresal B\u00f3-D\u00edbad, son of Rudraige, is documented in medieval Irish legend as having assumed power after killing his predecessor, Finnat M\u00e1r. His reign, which lasted for eleven years, was marked by significant events, including a widespread cattle plague. His epithet, b\u00f3 d\u00edbad<\/em> (Old Irish for \u201cextinction of cows\u201d), refers to this disaster.<\/p>

The legend goes on to describe how Bresal ordered the construction of a mighty tower reaching to heaven within the span of a single day. To extend the working day, his sister is said to have cast a spell that made the sun stand still, thereby suspending time. However, when Bresal committed incest with his sister, the enchantment was broken. The sun resumed its regular course and set, leaving the builders to abandon their work. This is said to be the origin of the name Dubhadh<\/em>, which translates to \u201cdarkening.\u201d<\/p>

Bresal\u2019s legend is recorded in the Dindsenchas<\/em> (modern spellings: Dinnseanchas or Dinnsheanchas or D\u0131nn\u1e61ean\u010bas) - the body of lore associated with Irish places and place-names.<\/p>

In the introduction to Volume IV of The Metrical Dindshenchas<\/em>, translated from the original medieval manuscripts by Edward Gwynn, he notes that the poems are drawn from many sources, and they don\u2019t provide exactly the same list of legends, or observe exactly the same order. However, one source contains legends that appear nowhere else. Gwynn explains :<\/p>

\u201cOne manuscript, Stowe D. ii. 2, contains an appendix of some thirty legends, which are not found in any other copy. Most of these are in prose form only, and therefore fall outside the proper scope of this book : but as they were unknown to Stokes, and consequently are not included in his edition of the prose Dindshenchas, it seemed desirable to print them here .\u201d (Preface to The Metrical Dindshenchas Part 4.<\/em>)<\/p>

One of these unique stories is the legend of Bresal B\u00f3-D\u00edbad. It is the entry for the placename \u2018Dubad\u2019 (Dubhadh). The manuscript is shown below, followed by the translation.<\/p>

\"The<\/p>

DUBAD<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Dubad, whence the name? Not hard to say. A king held sway over Erin, Bressal b\u00f3-dibad by name. In his time a murrain came upon the kine of Erin, until there were left in it but seven cows and a bull. All the men of Erin were gathered from every quarter to Bressal, to build them a tower after the likeness of the tower of Nimrod, that they might go by it to Heaven. His sister came to him, and told him that she would stay the sun's course in the vault of heaven, so that they might have an endless day to accomplish their task. The maiden went apart to work her magic. Bressal followed her and had union with her: so that place is called Ferta Cuile from the incest that was committed there. Night came upon them then, for the maiden's magic was spoilt. \u2018Let us go hence,\u2019 say the men of Erin, \u2018for we only pledged ourselves to spend one day a-making this hill, and since darkness has fallen upon our work, and night has come on and the day is done, let each depart to his place.\u2019 \u2018Dubad (darkness) shall be the name of this place for ever\u2019, said the maiden. So hence are Dubad and Cnoc Dubada named.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

But how might this story relate specifically to the neolithic carving on the Stone of the Seven Suns? The prevailing view is that the discs correspond to distinct phases of the sun\u2019s annual cycle. The Neolithic builders likely used the motifs to mark key periods during the year, such as the summer and winter solstices, and possibly the equinoxes. This interpretation is supported by the clear solstitial alignment at Dowth and the similar astronomical features observed at other sites in the Br\u00fa na B\u00f3inne complex.<\/p>

\"NeolithicBut could the carving represent something else entirely? Perhaps the darkening<\/em> in the legend refers not just to nightfall but to something even more awe-inspiring for our Neolithic ancestors. Could these carvings instead record a solar eclipse<\/strong> - or even multiple eclipses?<\/p>

When you compare the carvings to symbols on other megaliths, such as those above, or the flower-like motifs on the Loughcrew Equinox Stone<\/u><\/a>, you can see a marked difference in the rendering of the sun symbols. The discs on the Stone of the Seven Suns feature a much larger central disc with a separate outer ring from which rays emanate\u2014strikingly similar to the \"ring of fire\" effect seen during a total solar eclipse, when the sun\u2019s corona briefly becomes visible.<\/p>

Is this<\/em> what the Seven Suns represent?<\/p>

\"Neolithic<\/p>

Sources:<\/strong><\/p>

The image of the Stowe D. ii. 2 manuscript is reproduced here by permission of the Royal Irish Academy \u00a9 RIA<\/p>

Image: \u2018Fig 83 - Alphabet of Bronze Age Symbolism\u2019 from Ireland in Pre-Celtic Times<\/em> by R.A.S.Macalister (Dublin and London, 1921)<\/p>

Dowth: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dowth<\/a><\/p>

Dindsenchas: https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dindsenchas<\/a><\/p>

The Metrical Dindshenchas<\/em> from Corpus of Electronic Texts (CELT): https:\/\/celt.ucc.ie\/published\/T106500D.html<\/a><\/p>

<\/p>

The Stone of the Seven Suns<\/h2>

For Men:<\/strong><\/h3>

\"A<\/u><\/a>Seven Suns T-Shirt<\/u><\/a><\/p>

Seven Suns Long Sleeve T-Shirt<\/u><\/a><\/p>

Seven Suns Crew Neck Sweater<\/u><\/a><\/p>

Seven Suns Unisex Hoodie<\/u><\/a><\/p>

For Women:<\/strong><\/h3>

\"Woman<\/u><\/a>Seven Suns Top<\/u><\/a><\/p>

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Seven Suns Jumper<\/u><\/a><\/p>

Seven Suns Unisex Hoodie<\/u><\/a><\/p>

<\/p>

See also:<\/strong><\/p>

You can see our full range of prehistoric stone carvings in the Men\u2019s Neolithic Collection<\/u><\/strong><\/a> and the Women\u2019s Neolithic Collection<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>

All Eldon Threads clothing is made ethically and sustainably using 100% organic cotton.<\/p>","urlTitle":"the-stone-of-the-seven-suns","url":"\/blog\/the-stone-of-the-seven-suns\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/the-stone-of-the-seven-suns\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/eldonthreads.com\/blog\/the-stone-of-the-seven-suns\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1742058847,"updatedAt":1774448515,"publishedAt":1774448514,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":353639,"name":"Eldon Threads"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/kgdjeouamvrqxdl003swdpedbjbpv8jsn1jc7xinz38kznqf.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/kgdjeouamvrqxdl003swdpedbjbpv8jsn1jc7xinz38kznqf.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/kgdjeouamvrqxdl003swdpedbjbpv8jsn1jc7xinz38kznqf.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"The Stone of the Seven Suns","metaDescription":"The Stone of the Seven Suns is a carved kerbstone at the Dowth neolithic passage tomb - part of the Br\u00fa na B\u00f3inne complex located in County Meath, Ireland.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":41277,"title":"The Wiltshire White Horses","url":"\/blog\/the-wiltshire-white-horses\/","urlTitle":"the-wiltshire-white-horses","division":353639,"description":"If you're ever visiting Wiltshire, look to the hills, and keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of the county's eight iconic white horses. These colossal artworks, created by stripping away the grass to reveal the white chalk beneath, have been a part of the landscape for centuries.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/msddekwyqcaitsjvskupinl7gt2kowphlbn66oqlnanl6lxu.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.2&fx=0.46395693214563&fy=0.44457567580179","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/msddekwyqcaitsjvskupinl7gt2kowphlbn66oqlnanl6lxu.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.2&fx=0.46395693214563&fy=0.44457567580179"},"hidden":0},{"id":43528,"title":"Merlin: From Myth to Chronicle","url":"\/blog\/merlin-tshirts\/","urlTitle":"merlin-tshirts","division":353639,"description":"Step into Arthurian legend with our Merlin T-Shirt, featuring the iconic magician. Perfect for history and fantasy fans!","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/36cqhvvmteubbsq8bddpdwubtkggvekuo27wizv3oij4eiem.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/36cqhvvmteubbsq8bddpdwubtkggvekuo27wizv3oij4eiem.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":44351,"title":"Long Man. Cerne Giant. Which is Which?","url":"\/blog\/long-man-cerne-giant-which-is-which\/","urlTitle":"long-man-cerne-giant-which-is-which","division":353639,"description":"Two colossal chalk hill figures - the Long Man of Wilmington and the Cerne Abbas Giant. But which is which? Our handy guide explains the differences.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1ly1hvky5s3lejslrct9kzfl0ynw4ja2yansphqdjzu0g9lm.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/1ly1hvky5s3lejslrct9kzfl0ynw4ja2yansphqdjzu0g9lm.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}