| THE
PLACE OF DARKNESS
Given
Dowth's old Irish name, Dubad, meaning darkness, the idea of
painting this great mound at nighttime should seem appropriate.
The ancient
legend about its creation says the sun set while it was
being constructed, hence the name:
'Let
us go hence,' say the men of Erin, 'for 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
gone, let each depart to his place.' 'Dubad (darkness) shall
be the name of this place for ever'
This
painting, done looking towards Dowth from the east, shows the
constellations Orion and Taurus over the mound, along with Sirius
(far left). |
